Mobile station and communications method

ABSTRACT

In order to define uniquely a transmission control operation of a mobile station in accordance with the present invention at the time of a E-DCH transmission and to increase the efficiency of the operation of a communications system, the mobile station includes a transmission control means for, for each of a first physical data channel via which user data transmitted via a transport channel from an upper layer are transmitted to a fixed station and a second physical data channel which is an extension of the first physical data channel, selecting transmission control information including a transmission rate depending upon the user data, a multiplex modulation means for performing multiplex modulation on transmission data by using the transmission control information selected by the transmission control means and the amplitude coefficients of the first physical data channel and the second physical data channel, and a transmit power control means for performing control of the transmit power of a transmitting means which amplifies the transmission data in such a manner that the transmission data has predetermined transmit power, and which transmits the transmission data, and the transmission control means judges whether the transmit power in a case of not transmitting a control channel via which control data about control of the second physical data channel are transmitted exceeds a maximum transmit power value, and selects the transmission control information about the first physical data channel.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a mobile station and a communicationsmethod which are implemented in a communications system to which a CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access) method is applied. More particularly, itrelates to a mobile station and a communications method which areimplemented in a mobile communications system in which channels viawhich high-speed packet data are transmitted in an uplink are set up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, plural telecommunications standards called thirdgeneration are adopted as IMT-2000 by the InternationalTelecommunications Union (ITU) for high-speed CDMA mobiletelecommunications methods. For W-CDMA (FDD: Frequency Division Duplex)which is one of the plural telecommunications standards, commercialservices were started in Japan in 2001. For W-CDMA systems, thestandardization organization 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project)determined the first specification to summarize them as the release1999th edition (Version name: 3.x.x) in 1999. Currently, release 4 andrelease 5 are specified as other new versions of the release 1999thedition, and release 6 is under review and being created.

Hereafter, main channels related to specifications released prior torelease 5 will be explained below briefly. As physical-layer channelswhich are individually assigned to a mobile station asrelease-1999-compliant channels, there are a DPCCH (Dedicated PhysicalControl CHannel) and a DPDCH (Dedicated Physical Data CHannel). TheDPCCH is used for transmission and reception of various pieces ofcontrol information for a physical layer (e.g., a pilot signal forsynchronization and a transmit power control signal). The DPDCH is usedfor transmission and reception of various data from a MAC layer (MediaAccess Control: a protocol layer located above the physical layer).Incidentally, channels used for a transmission of data between the MAClayer and the physical layer is called transport channels (Transportchannels). In release 1999, a transport channel which corresponds to theDPDCH which is the physical-layer channel is called a DCH (DedicatedChannel), and a plurality of transport channels can be set up. Theabove-mentioned DPCCH and DPDCH are set up for both uplink and downlink.

In release 5, an HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology isintroduced in order to achieve increase in the efficiency of atransmission of packets via downlink, and, as physical-layer channelsfor downlink, an HS-PDSCH (High Speed-Physical Downlink Shared CHannel)and an HS-SCCH (High Speed-Shared Control CHannel) are added. TheHS-PDSCH and the HS-SCCH are used by two or more mobile stations. TheHS-PDSCH is a channel via which data from the MAC layer are transmitted,like the release-1999-compliant DPDCH. The HS-SCCH is a channel viawhich control information (e.g., a modulation method of modulatingtransmission data, and a packet data size) at the time of transmittingdata via the HS-PDSCH is transmitted.

The spreading factor of the HS-PDSCH is fixed to 16, and two or morespread codes (i.e., two or more channels) can be assigned to one mobilestation at the time of a transmission of packets. It is defined by the3GPP standards that assignment control (so-called scheduling) is carriedout by a base station (i.e., a fixed station in a general communicationssystem). Furthermore, in release 5, an HS-DPCCH (High Speed-DedicatedPhysical Control CHannel) is added as a physical-layer channel foruplink. The mobile station transmits a reception judgment result(ACK/NACK) for data sent thereto via the HS-PDSCH, and downlink radioquality information (CQI: Channel Quality Indicator) to the base stationusing the HS-DPCCH.

The base station transmits HS-PDSCH and HS-SCCH data in a pair. Themobile station receives the HS-PDSCH and HS-SCCH data which are sentfrom the base station, judges whether the data include any error, andtransmits a judgment result (ACK/NACK) using the HS-DPCCH. Therefore,the frequency with which the mobile station transmits ACK/NACK to thebase station varies according to the frequency of a downlinktransmission of packets. The mobile station also transmits CQI to thebase station according to the value of the cycle which is configured(configuration) by the fixed station at an initial stage ofcommunications or during communications, and which is notified to themobile station.

When transmitting data using the DPDCH, the mobile station piggybacksinformation about a multiplexing method of the data of one or more DCHsand the size of data per unit time (i.e., a transmission rate) onto theDPCCH, and transmits the information to the receive side to notify it tothe receive side. The notification information containing “themultiplexing method of multiplexing data” and “the data size” is calleda TFC (Transport Format Combination), and a TFCI (TFC Index) which isthe index of the TFC is transmitted to the receive side. When thetransmission rate is decided by the TFC, a channel amplitude coefficient(a channel gain factor: βd) which defines the transmit power of theDPDCH is decided. A set of TFCs which can be provided when atransmission of data is performed is called a TFCS (TFC Set), and is setup between the mobile station and the fixed station at the time ofinitial settings for communications or during communications.Furthermore, for each of the TFCs, a transition among states (Support,Excess Power, and Block) is defined, and that the state of each TFC (andthe transition among states) is determined so that it reflects the stateof the transmission is defined in the technical specification TS25.321(see Chapter 11.4 of nonpatent reference 1: Transport format combinationselection in UE, and FIG. 11.4.1 of nonpatent reference 1). Morespecifically, a transition among the states of each TFC for the DPDCH ismade to take place by evaluating (Evaluation) the number of unittransmission time intervals (slot: 1/15 of 10 milliseconds) that thetotal transmit power value (an estimated or actual measurement) of themobile station reaches a maximum transmit power predetermined value (ora maximum transmit power setting) This is defined by the technicalspecification TS25.133 (see Chapter 6.4 of nonpatent reference 2:Transport format combination selection in UE, and Chapter 6.4.2 ofnonpatent reference 2: Requirements).

[Nonpatent reference 1] 3rd Generation Partnership Project; TechnicalSpecification Group Radio Access Network; Medium Access Control (MAC)protocol specification (Release 5) 3GPP TS 25.321 V5.9.0 (2004-06)

[Nonpatent reference 2] 3rd Generation Partnership Project; TechnicalSpecification Group Radio Access Network; Requirements for support ofradio resource management (FDD) (Release 5) 3GPP TS 25.133 V5.12.0(2004-09)

Release 1999 is decided by mainly assuming transmission and reception ofcontinuous data like voice calls. In release 5, HSDPA which makes itpossible to carry out downlink high-speed packet communications isadded, though no specifications assuming uplink high-speed packetcommunications are developed but the release 1999 specifications areapplied just as they are. Therefore, also in a case in which an uplinkburst (Burst) transmission like a transmission of packet data from amobile station to a base station is carried out, dedicated channels (DCHand DPDCH) for exclusive use must be assigned to each mobile station allthe time. Therefore, by taking into consideration an increase in demandof an uplink transmission of packet data which is caused by thewidespread use of the Internet, there is a problem from the viewpoint ofthe effective use of the radio resources.

Furthermore, a data transmission from a mobile station is performedthrough autonomous transmission control (Autonomous Transmission) by themobile station. In this case, the transmission timing from each mobilestation is defined arbitrarily (or at a statistically random). In thesystem in which the mobile station carries out the autonomoustransmission control, and, the mobile station is carrying out the datatransmission, the fixed station is not concerned about the transmissiontiming of the mobile station. In a communication system to which theCDMA communications method is applied, although transmissions from othermobile stations all serve as a source of interference, a fixed stationwhich manages the radio resources can carry out a prediction (ormanagement) of the amount of interference noises and an amount ofvariations in the amount of interference noises for the base station'sreception only with statistical methods. Thus, because the fixed stationwhich manages the radio resources in the communications system using theCDMA communication method is not concerned about the transmission timingof each mobile station and cannot predict correctly the amount ofinterference noises, the fixed station carries out radio resourceassignment control which ensures a sufficient margin by assuming a casein which the amount of variations in the interference noise amount islarge. Such radio resource management by a fixed station is carried outby not a base station itself, but a base station control apparatus (RNC:Radio Network Controller) which manages two or more base stations.

The radio resource management which the base station control apparatus(RNC) carries out for mobile stations and notifications which accompanythe radio resource management need a relatively-long processing time (ofthe order of several 100 milliseconds). For this reason, no appropriatecontrol of the assignment of the uplink radio resources according to arapid change in the radio transmission environment, the transmissionstates of other mobile stations (=the amount of interference from othermobile stations), etc. cannot be carried out. Therefore, in release 6,an E-DCH (Enhanced DCH) technology is introduced and its detailedspecifications are defined in order to implement the effective use ofthe radio resources and high-speed assignment of the radio resources.The E-DCH technology may be called HSUPA (High Speed Uplink PacketAccess). In the E-DCH technology, not only an AMC (Adaptive Modulationand Coding) technology, an HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest)technology, etc. which are introduced for HSDPA in release 5, but also ashort transmission time interval (TTI: Transmission Time Interval) canbe used. The E-DCH means a transport channel which is an extension of aDCH which is a transport channel which complies with the conventionalstandards, and is set up independently of the DCH.

For the E-DCH, the fixed station carries out uplink radio resourcecontrol which is called “scheduling.” Because the electric wavepropagation environment and so on differ between uplinks and downlinks,the scheduling differs from the scheduling for the HSDPA. The mobilestation carries out control of a transmission of data on the basis ofscheduling results notified from the fixed station. The fixed stationtransmits a judgment result (ACK/NACK) for the received data to themobile station. A base station (referred to as NodeB in 3GPP) is definedas an apparatus which is included in the fixed station and which carriesout the scheduling. An example of a concrete method of carrying outscheduling for a E-DCH in a base station is disclosed by, for example,JP, 2004-215276, A (patent reference 1). Furthermore, TS25.309v6.3.0(nonpatent reference 3) is provided as the technical specification(Technical Specification) of 3GPP which is created for a E-DCH.

[Patent reference 1] JP, 2004-215276, A

[Nonpatent reference 3] 3rd Generation Partnership Project TechnicalSpecification Group Radio Access Network; FDD Enhanced Uplink; Overalldescription; Stage 2 (Release 6) 3GPP TS 25.309 V6.3.0 (2005-06)

In release 6, a E-DPDCH (Enhanced-DPDCH) and a E-DPCCH (Enhanced-DPCCH)are added as uplink physical channels for E-DCH. The E-DPDCH and theE-DPCCH are the physical channels which correspond to the DPDCH and theDPCCH which comply with release 5 and earlier standards, the E-DPDCH isa channel via which data from the MAC layer are transmitted, and theE-DPCCH is a channel via which control information is transmitted.Furthermore, as in the case of TFC for DPDCH, E-TFC (Enhanced-TFC) whichdefines the transmission rate is used. A gain factor (βed) for E-DPDCHis decided on the basis of the transmission rate. In addition, inrelease 6, as downlink physical channels for E-DCH, a E-AGCH(Enhanced-Absolute Grant CHannel) and a E-RGCH (Enhanced-Relative GrantCHannel) via which scheduling results are notified, and a E-HICH (E-DCHHARQ Acknowledgement Indicator CHannel) via which a reception judgmentresult (ACK/NACK) is notified are added.

It is decided that at the time of a data transmission from a mobilestation, E-DCH and DCH data are treated as independent data streams(Data Stream), and a higher priority is given to a DCH transmission thanto a E-DCH transmission. Thus, because E-DCH data are a data streamwhich is independent of DCH data and a higher priority is given to a DCHtransmission than to a E-DCH transmission, the mobile station ensurestransmit power required for the DCH transmission, selects a E-TFC withinthe limits of a remaining transmit power margin, and then carries out atransmission of E-DCH data. In above-mentioned nonpatent reference 3, astate (a blocked state or a supported state) is defined for a E-TFC, asin the case of a TFC.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Hereafter, a problem with uplink transmission control which arises dueto the addition of the E-DCH will be explained. According to nonpatentreference 3 (TS25.309), the transmission rate (E-TFC) at the time of aE-DCH transmission is determined on the basis of margin power (atransmit power margin) which is provided after power required for a DCHtransmission is ensured from the maximum total transmit power of themobile station. Furthermore, the state of the E-TFC is changed on thebasis of the margin of the transmit power. A problem is, however, thatbecause no detailed criterion by which to determine the transition ofthe state of the E-TFC is defined, a mobile station in thecommunications system does not perform any transition operation uniquelyand therefore the operation of the communications system becomesunstable and inefficient. Furthermore, a criterion by which to determinea E-TFC at the time of a E-DCH transmission is also indefinite. Anotherproblem is therefore that because any detailed specifications for theE-TFC determination process are unknown, any real-world apparatus cannotbe created.

It is therefore an object of the present invention is to provide amobile station and a communications method which solve the problemscaused by the addition of the E-DCH, and which perform uplinktransmission control and radio resources control appropriately.

Means for Solving the Problems

A mobile station in accordance with the present invention includes: atransmission control means for, for each of a first physical datachannel via which user data transmitted via a transport channel from anupper layer are transmitted to a fixed station and a second physicaldata channel which is an extension of the first physical data channel,selecting transmission control information including a transmission ratedepending upon the user data; a multiplex modulation means forperforming multiplex modulation on transmission data by using thetransmission control information selected by the transmission controlmeans and amplitude coefficients of the first physical data channel andthe second physical data channel; and a transmit power control means forperforming control of transmit power of a transmitting means whichamplifies the transmission data in such a manner that the transmissiondata has predetermined transmit power, and which transmits thetransmission data, and the transmission control means judges whether thetransmit power at a time of not transmitting a control channel via whichcontrol data about control of the second physical data channel aretransmitted exceeds a maximum transmit power value, and selectstransmission control information about the first physical data channel.

A communications method in accordance with the present inventionincludes: a transmission control information selection process of, foreach of a first physical data channel via which user data transmittedvia a transport channel from an upper layer are transmitted to a fixedstation and a second physical data channel which is an extension of thefirst physical data channel, selecting transmission control informationincluding a transmission rate depending upon the user data; a multiplexmodulation process of performing multiplex modulation on transmissiondata by using the transmission control information selected in thetransmission control information selection process and amplitudecoefficients of the first physical data channel and the second physicaldata channel; and a transmit power control process of performingtransmit power control in such a manner that the transmission data haspredetermined transmit power, and the transmission control informationselection process is the one of judging whether the transmit power at atime of not transmitting a control channel via which control data aboutcontrol of the second physical data channel are transmitted exceeds amaximum transmit power value, and selecting transmission controlinformation about the first physical data channel.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The mobile station in accordance with the present invention includes:the transmission control means for, for each of the first physical datachannel via which user data transmitted via the transport channel fromthe upper layer are transmitted to the fixed station and the secondphysical data channel which is an extension of the first physical datachannel, selecting transmission control information including thetransmission rate depending upon the user data; the multiplex modulationmeans for performing multiplex modulation on transmission data by usingthe transmission control information selected by the transmissioncontrol means and the amplitude coefficients of the first physical datachannel and the second physical data channel; and the transmit powercontrol means for performing control of the transmit power of thetransmitting means which amplifies the transmission data in such amanner that the transmission data has the predetermined transmit power,and which transmits the transmission data, and the transmission controlmeans judges whether the transmit power at the time of not transmittingthe control channel via which the control data about control of thesecond physical data channel are transmitted exceeds the maximumtransmit power value, and selects transmission control information aboutthe first physical data channel. Therefore, the present inventionprovides an advantage of being able to make the mobile station perform atransmission control operation uniquely at the time of E-DCHtransmission, thereby increasing the efficiency of the operation of thecommunications system.

The communications method in accordance with the present inventionincludes: the transmission control information selection process of, foreach of the first physical data channel via which user data transmittedvia the transport channel from the upper layer are transmitted to thefixed station and the second physical data channel which is an extensionof the first physical data channel, selecting transmission controlinformation including the transmission rate depending upon the userdata; the multiplex modulation process of performing multiplexmodulation on the transmission data by using the transmission controlinformation selected in the transmission control information selectionprocess and the amplitude coefficients of the first physical datachannel and the second physical data channel; and the transmit powercontrol process of performing transmit power control in such a mannerthat the transmission data has the predetermined transmit power, and thetransmission control information selection process is the one of judgingwhether the transmit power at the time of not transmitting the controlchannel via which control data about control of the second physical datachannel are transmitted exceeds the maximum transmit power value, andselecting transmission control information about the first physical datachannel. Therefore, the present invention provides an advantage of beingable to make the mobile station perform a transmission control operationuniquely at the time of E-DCH transmission, thereby increasing theefficiency of the operation of the communications system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing explaining a radio communicationssystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a fixed station (abase station and a base station control apparatus) in accordance withEmbodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart explaining the whole of a transmission controlprocess carried out by the mobile station in accordance with Embodiment1 of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart explaining a transmission control process for DCHcarried out by the mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart explaining a process of checking a transmit powermargin for DCH transmission which is carried out by the mobile stationin accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart explaining a process of evaluating the state of aTFC (TFC restriction) which is carried out by the mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart explaining a process of controlling a E-DCHtransmission which is carried out by the mobile station in accordancewith Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart explaining a process of checking a transmit powermargin for E-DCH transmission which is carried out by the mobile stationin accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart explaining a process of evaluating the state ofa E-TFC (E-TFC restriction) which is carried out by the mobile stationin accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flow chart explaining a E-TFC selection process carried outby the mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart explaining a transmit power control processcarried out by the mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 1 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 13 is a diagram explaining a relation between a setting of maximumtransmit power and transmit power in the mobile station in accordancewith Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a diagram explaining a relation between a setting of themaximum transmit power and the transmit power in the mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram explaining a relation between a setting of themaximum transmit power and the transmit power in the mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory drawing explaining definitions of the maximumtransmit power of the mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 1 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory drawing explaining definitions of the maximumtransmit power of a mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 2 ofthe present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flow chart explaining a process of evaluating the state ofa E-TFC (E-TFC restriction) which is carried out by a mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart explaining a process of evaluating the state ofa E-TFC (E-TFC restriction) which is carried out by a mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 4 of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart explaining a transmission control process carriedout by a mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 5 of the presentinvention;

FIG. 21 is a flow chart explaining a transmit power control processcarried out by the mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 5 of thepresent invention;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile station inaccordance with Embodiment 6 of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a flow chart explaining a transmit power control processcarried out by a mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 7 of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 24 is a flow chart explaining the whole of a transmission controlprocess carried out by a mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 8of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   101; Communications system, 102; Mobile station, 103; Base        station, 104; Base station control apparatus,    -   105; Communication network, 106; DPCCH, 107; DPCCH,    -   108; DPDCH, 109; DPDCH, 110; HS-DPCCH,    -   111; HS-PDSCH/HS-SCCH,    -   112; E-DPDCH/E-DPCCH, 113; E-HICH,    -   114; E-AGCH/E-RGCH, 201; Radio resource control unit,    -   202; Media access control unit, 205; Modulating unit, 206        Transmitting unit,    -   208; Transmit power measurement and control unit, 209; Receiving        unit, 210; Demodulating unit,    -   301; Radio resource control unit, 302; Media access control        unit, 305; Modulating unit,    -   306; Transmitting unit, 309; Receiving unit, 310; Demodulating        unit

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Embodiment 1

An invention in accordance with Embodiment 1 will be explained withreference to drawings. First of all, the structure of each unit of acommunications system is shown with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Next, aflow of transmission control of a mobile station will be shown withreference to FIGS. 4 to 12.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing explaining the radio communicationssystem in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 1, the radiocommunications system 101 is comprised of a mobile station 102, a basestation 103, and a base station control apparatus 104. The base station103 covers a specific communications area (generally called a sector orcell), and carries out communications with a plurality of mobilestations 102. In FIG. 1, only one mobile station 102 is shown for thesake of simplicity. Communications are carried out between the mobilestation 102 and the base station 103 using one or a plurality of radiolinks (or channels). The base station control apparatus 104 communicateswith two or more base stations 103, and is also connected to an exteriorcommunication network 105, such as a public telephone network or theInternet, and relays packet communications between the base station 103and the communication network 105. In FIG. 1, only one base station 103is shown for the sake of simplicity. In the W-CDMA standards, theabove-mentioned mobile station 102 is called UE (User Equipment), theabove-mentioned base station 103 is called Node-B, and theabove-mentioned base station control apparatus 104 is called RNC (RadioNetwork Controller).

An uplink DPCCH (Dedicated Physical Control CHannel) 106 is a physicalcontrol channel (Physical Control Channel) from the mobile station 102,and a downlink DPCCH 107 is a physical control channel from the basestation 103. Synchronous control of the transmit-receive timing betweenthe mobile station 102 and the base station 103, and so on are carriedout using the two above-mentioned DPCCHs (106 and 107), so that aphysical radio link between the mobile station and the base stationduring communications is maintained. The uplink DPCCH 106, an uplinkDPDCH 108, an uplink HS-DPCCH 110, the downlink DPCCH 107, a downlinkDPDCH 109, and a downlink HS-PDSCH/HS-SCCH 111 are channels according torelease 5 or earlier standards. Uplink E-DPDCH/E-DPCCH 112 are physicalchannels for E-DCH transmission. Because data are basically transmittedvia the E-DPDCH/E-DPCCH 112 in the form of a pair, the followingexplanation will be made focusing on the E-DPDCH, though a referencewill also be made to the E-DPCCH when necessary.

A downlink E-HICH 113 is a channel for notifying a judgment result(ACK/NACK) of reception of E-DCH data by the base station 103 to themobile station 102. A downlink E-AGCH/E-RGCH 114 is a channel fornotifying a scheduling result for E-DCH. As an expression form of radioresource allocation results, rate information (e.g., a E-TFC or amaximum transmission rate setting value), power information (e.g.,maximum transmit power or a ratio of the maximum transmit power), orchannel amplitude information (a channel amplitude coefficient or aratio of the channel amplitude coefficient) can be provided.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of the mobile station inaccordance with embodiment 1 of the present invention. Hereafter, theinternal structure of the mobile station (e.g., functional blocks, and aflow of data and control signals) will be explained with reference toFIG. 2. A radio resource control unit 201 controls each unit disposedwithin the mobile station in order to perform various settings, such asa combination of channels required for transmission and reception, and atransmission rate. The radio resource control unit 201 also outputscommunication setting information (CH_config) and QoS information (HARQprofile). Maximum total transmit power setting information, channelamplitude coefficient (gain factors) setting information of eachchannel, transmission timing setting information, transmission ratesetting (TFCS, E-TFCS), etc. are included in the various pieces ofcommunication setting information (CH_config). The various pieces ofcommunication setting information (CH_config) are notified from a fixedstation side (including the base station control apparatus 104 and thebase station 103) to the mobile station 102 (the notification isreferred to as an RRC signaling in W-CDMA systems), at an initial stagein the process of starting communications or during communications, andare then stored in the radio resource control unit 201 by way of anantenna 207, a receiving unit 209, a demodulating unit 210, and a mediaaccess control unit 202. The radio resource control unit 201 piggybacks,as data, an exchange (an RRC signaling) of information between itselfand the radio resource control unit of the fixed station side (the basestation control apparatus 104 and the base station 103), which will bementioned later, onto the DPDCH. In an exchange (an RRC signaling) ofinformation between the radio resource control units, when no DPDCH isset up at a setting time of an initial stage in the process of startingcommunications, data can be piggybacked onto FACH/RACH channels (notshown), whereas when no downlink DPDCH is set up even duringcommunications, data can be piggybacked onto the HS-PDSCH (in the caseof downlink). In this embodiment, the operation of the mobile stationduring communications will be explained, and a case in which data arepiggybacked onto the DPDCH will be explained.

A transmission setting evaluating unit 203 has a function of evaluatingTFCs for DCH and E-TFCs for E-DCH, setting some states including“supported state” (Supported State), and restricting availabletransmission rates (TFC/E-TFC restriction function). Focusing theevaluation of E-TFCs for E-DCH, the transmission setting evaluating unit203 performs an evaluation of the transmission status using a E-TFCrestriction functional block (E-TFC Restriction) from the various piecesof communication setting information (CH_config) inputted from the radioresource control unit 201, E-TFCs and gain factors □ (βed,eff and βec)from a transmission rate control unit 204, and transmit powerinformation (UE transmit power info) inputted from a transmit powermeasurement and control unit 208, and controls a transition between anenable state and a disable state of each E-TFC. The transmission settingevaluating unit also outputs the evaluation results to the transmissionrate control unit 204 as state information (E-TFC_state) of each E-TFC.The transmission setting evaluating unit similarly makes an evaluationof TFCs for DCH using the various pieces of setting information(CH_config) inputted from the radio resource control unit 201, TFCs andgain factors from the transmission rate control unit 203, and thetransmit power information (UE transmit power info) inputted from thetransmit power measurement and control unit 208, controls a transitionbetween an enable state and a disable state of each TFC, and outputs theevaluation results to the transmission rate control unit 204 as stateinformation (TFC_state) of each TFC.

The transmission rate control unit 204 has a function (E-TFC selection)of selecting a E-TFC which the transmission rate control unit uses atthe time of a E-DCH data transmission. The transmission rate controlunit 204 determines a E-TFC which the transmission rate control unituses at the time of an actual data transmission on the basis of thestate information (E-TFC_state) inputted from the transmission settingevaluating unit 203 and scheduling result information (Sche_grant) whichis separated from received E-AGCH/E-RGCH data, and outputs an effectiveE-DPDCH gain factor (βed,eff) and an E-DPCCH gain factor (βec) to boththe transmission setting evaluating unit 203 and a modulating unit 205.The transmission rate control unit 204 uses the scheduling resultinformation transmitted from the fixed base station, has a maximum ofavailable uplink radio resources (for example, a channel power ratio ofE-DPDCH) as an internal variable (Serving_grant), and carries out aE-TFC selection so that E-DPDCH data with a higher priority can betransmitted within the limits of the available uplink radio resources.The transmission rate control unit 204 can output βed, which iscalculated on the basis of the transmission rate (E-TFC), and a poweroffset (ΔE-DPDCH) whose maximum is selected on the basis of the QoS oftransmission data multiplexed, instead of the effective gain factorβed,eff. When there exist other physical channel data to besimultaneously transmitted, the transmission rate control unit 204outputs information about the TFC which has been selected for DCH andthe gain factors (βd, βc, and βhs) of the various channels (the DPDCH,the DPCCH, and the HS-DPCCH) to both the transmission setting evaluatingunit 203 and the modulating unit 205.

Even if the transmission rate control unit outputs power offsetinformation which is based on the transmit power of the DPCCH channelinstead of the gain factor for HS-PDSCH (βhs), the mobile station canoperate in the same way. A transmission control means is comprised ofthe radio resource control unit 201, the transmission setting evaluatingunit 203, and the transmission rate control unit 204, which arementioned above. The transmission setting evaluating unit 203 and thetransmission rate control unit 204 construct a part of the media accesscontrol unit 202. The media access control unit 202 accepts thetransmission data (DTCH) from a higher-level protocol layer (not shown),and control information (RRC_signaling (DCCH)), assigns the data to theDCH or E-DCH according to a channel setup and so on, and outputs thedata, as channel data, to the modulating unit 205.

The modulating unit 205 multiplexes uplink channels (DPDCH, DPCCH,HS-DPCCH, E-DPDCH, and E-DPCCH) data, which are to be actuallytransmitted, on the basis of the inputted various transmission ratesettings (TFC and E-TFC) and the gain factors (βd, βc, βhs, βed,eff, andβec) by using a known technique which is so-called quadraturemultiplexing (IQ multiplexing). By using a known technique, themodulating unit further performs a spread-spectrum modulation process onthe multiplexed transmission data and outputs a modulated signal(Mod_signal). At this time, the modulating unit controls its modulationoperation according to a control signal (β_cont), which will bementioned later, from the transmit power measurement and control unit208 if needed. The modulating unit 204 constructs a multiplex modulationmeans.

A transmitting unit 206 converts the inputted modulated signal(Mod_signal) into a radio frequency signal by using a known techniqueand, after that, amplifies the radio frequency signal so that the radiofrequency signal has required power, and then outputs the radiofrequency signal as a radio signal (RF_signal) While the radio signal(RF_signal) is transmitted by radio from the antenna 207, the radiosignal is also outputted to the transmit power measurement and controlunit 208. The transmitting unit 206 also adjusts the power of the radiosignal (RF_signal) according to transmit power control information(Po_cont) from the transmit power measurement and control unit 208.

The transmit power measurement and control unit 208 carries out transmitpower control on the basis of the gain factors (βd, βc, βhs, βed,eff,and βec) inputted from the transmission rate control unit 204, andoutputs the transmit power control information (Po_cont) to thetransmitting unit 206. The transmit power measurement and control unit208 has a function of measuring or estimating the transmit power of eachchannel and total transmit power. From the radio signal (RF_signal)outputted from the transmitting unit 206, the transmit power measurementand control unit measures (or estimates) each channel's average power oraverage total transmit power which is averaged within a predeterminedtime period (in the case of W-CDMA, one frame (frame), one transmissiontime interval (Transmit Time Interval)), one slot (slot), or the like isdefined as the predetermined time period), and outputs the transmitpower information (UE transmit power info) to the transmission settingevaluating unit 203. A transmitting means is comprised of thetransmitting unit 206, the antenna 207, and the transmit powermeasurement and control unit 208, which are mentioned above.

The receiving unit 209 inputs a downlink radio signal (RF_signal)received by the antenna 207, performs frequency conversion andde-spreading on the radio signal by using a known technology, andoutputs a demodulation signal (Demod_signal). The demodulating unit 210inputs the demodulation signal (Demod_signal), and demultiplexes thedemodulation signal into data associated with the various downlinkphysical channels by using a known technique. Concretely, thedemodulating unit 210 extracts control information, which is required todemodulate the DPDCH data, from DPCCH data, demodulate the DPDCH data,and outputs DCH data. The demodulating unit also extracts a transmitpower control signal (TPC) for uplink, and outputs the transmit powercontrol signal to the transmit power measurement and control unit 208.The demodulating unit 210 further extracts HS-DSCH data from theHS-PDSCH, and outputs the HS-DSCH data to the media access control unit202. When receiving HS-DSCH data, the demodulating unit 210 alsoperforms a reception judgment and outputs a judgment result (ACK/NACK)to the transmission rate control unit 204 while piggybacking thejudgment result onto the uplink HS-DPCCH. This reception judgment result(ACK/NACK) is transmitted, as HS-DPCCH data, to the base station 103 byway of the modulating unit 205, the transmitting unit 206, and theantenna 207. The demodulating unit 210 further extracts judgment result(ACK/NACK) information on a result of a judgment of reception of E-DCHdata by the base station from received E-HICH data, and outputs thejudgment result information to the transmission rate control unit 204.The demodulating unit also extracts scheduling result information(Sche_grant) information from received E-AGCH/E-RGCH data, and outputsthe scheduling result information to the transmission rate control unit204. When control information (RRC_signaling: DCCH) including settinginformation (CH_config) etc. is included in the DCH data or HS-PDSCHdata inputted from the demodulating unit 209, the media access unit 202extracts the control information from the data and outputs the controlinformation to the radio resource control unit 201. When the inputtedDCH data or HS-PDSCH data are data associated with a higher-levelprotocol layer (not shown), the media access control unit 202 outputsthe inputted data to the higher-level protocol layer as upper layer data(DTCH).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the fixed stationside in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention.Hereafter, the internal structure of the fixed station side (functionalblocks, and a flow of data and control signals) will be explained withreference to FIG. 3. The same names as those shown in FIG. 2 are givento blocks having the functions corresponding to those shown in thefigure of the internal blocks of the mobile station shown in FIG. 2.Each block included in the fixed station side represents a logicalfunctional unit (entity), and assume that each block exists in one ofboth the base station 103 and the base station control apparatus 104 oran independent another apparatus according to the implementation of thebase station 103 and the base station control apparatus 104. Accordingto the 3GPP standards, the fixed station, which is a combination of thebase station control apparatus (RNC) and the base station (NodeB), iscalled UTRAN (Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network).

The radio resource control unit 301 controls each unit disposed in thefixed station in order to control various settings like a combination ofchannels required for transmission and reception to and from the mobilestation 102, and the transmission rate. The radio resource control unit301 also outputs various pieces of setting information (CH_config). Anamplitude coefficient setting, a transmission timing setting, HARQprofile information, a transmission rate setting (TFCS, E-TFCS), etc. ofeach channel are included in the above-mentioned various pieces ofsetting information (CH_config). The above-mentioned various pieces ofsetting information (CH_config) are transmitted from the base stationcontrol apparatus 104 to the mobile station 102 via the base station 103at an initial stage in the process of starting communications or duringcommunications. The radio resource control unit 301 outputs, as controlinformation (RRC_signalling), the above-mentioned various pieces ofsetting information (CH_config) which the radio resource control unittransmits and receives to and from the mobile station. The radioresource control unit also inputs mobile station control information(RRC_signalling) received from the mobile station 102 from a mediaaccess control unit 302 which will be mentioned later. In an exchange(RRC signalling) of information between the radio resource controlunits, when no DPDCH is set up at a setting time of an initial stage ofcommunications, data can be piggybacked onto the FACH/RACH channels (notshown), whereas when no downlink DPDCH is set up even duringcommunications, data can be piggybacked onto the HS-PDSCH (in the caseof downlink). In this embodiment, the operation of the fixed stationduring communications will be explained, and a case in which data arepiggybacked onto the DPDCH will be explained.

A transmission setting evaluating unit 303 controls downlinktransmissions on the basis of the various pieces of setting information(CH_config) inputted from the radio resource control unit 301. Thetransmission setting evaluating unit 303 has a function (TFCRestriction) of evaluating the state of each TFC of the downlink DPDCHand restricting available transmission rates, and outputs information(TFC_state) about the evaluated state to a transmission rate controlunit 304. The transmission rate control unit 304 has a transmission ratedetermination (TFC Selection) function of selecting one TFC which thetransmission rate control unit uses at the time of a DCH datatransmission, a downlink scheduling (HSDPA scheduling) function forHSDPA data transmission, and an uplink scheduling (E-DCH scheduling)function for E-DCH data transmission. The transmission rate control unit304 further determines one TFC which the transmission rate control unituses at the time of an actual transmission on the basis of the neweststate information (TFC_state) inputted from the transmission settingevaluating unit 303, and outputs information (TFC) about the selectedTFC and the gain factors (βd and βc) of each channel. In this case, βdis used for the DPDCH and βc is used for the DPCCH. While inputting anHSDPA packet reception judgment result (ACK/NACK) transmitted from themobile station 102 from a demodulating unit 310 which will be mentionedlater and using it for the above-mentioned scheduling for HSDPA, thetransmission rate control unit outputs scheduling result information(Sche_info) to a modulating unit 305. A transmission control means iscomprised of the radio resource control unit 301, the transmissionsetting evaluating unit 303, and the transmission rate control unit 304,which are explained above. The transmission setting evaluating unit 303and the transmission rate control unit 304 construct a part of the mediaaccess unit control 302. The media access control unit 302 inputstransmission data (DTCH) from a higher-level protocol layer (not shown),and control information (RRC_signalling (DCCH)) from the radio resourcecontrol unit 301, and assigns the data to the DCH or HS-DSCH accordingto a channel setup etc. and outputs the data to the modulating unit 305.

The modulating unit 305 multiplexes downlink physical channel (DPDCH,DPCCH, HS-PDSCH, AGCH/RGCH, and E-HICH) data which are to be actuallytransmitted by using a known technique, like a so-called quadraturemultiplexing method, on the basis the TFC information (TFC) inputtedfrom the transmission rate control unit 304, the amplitude information(βd and βc) about each of the channels, the scheduling resultinformation for HSDPA (Sche_info), and the scheduling information forE-DCH (Sche_grant). The modulating unit further performs a spreadingprocess and a modulation process on the data using a known technique,and outputs a modulated signal (Mod_signal). A transmitting unit 306converts the inputted modulated signal (Mod_signal) into a radiofrequency signal by using a known technique and, after that, amplifiesthe radio frequency signal so that the radio frequency signal hasrequired power, and then outputs the radio signal (RF_signal). The radiosignal (RF_signal) is transmitted by radio, as downlink physical channel(DPCCH 107, DPDCH 109, HS-PDSCH 111, E-HICH 113, and E-AGCH/E-RGCH 114)data, from an antenna 307.

A receiving unit 309 inputs an uplink radio signal (RF_signal) receivedby the antenna 307, performs frequency conversion and de-spreading onthe radio signal by using a known technique, and outputs a demodulationsignal (Demod_signal). A demodulating unit 310 inputs the demodulationsignal (Demod_signal), and demultiplexes the demodulation signal intodata associated with the various uplink channels (DPCCH, DPDCH,HS-DPCCH, E-DPDCH, and E-DPCCH) by using a known technique. Thedemodulating unit 310 extracts control information required for DPDCHdemodulation from the DPCCH data, demodulates the DPDCH data, andoutputs DCH data. The demodulating unit 310 further demultiplexes theHS-DPCCH data into an HS-PDSCH reception judgment result (ACK/NACK) anddownlink quality information (CQI), and outputs them to a scheduler forHSDPA of the transmission rate control unit 304. The demodulating unitalso extracts control information required for E-DPDCH demodulation fromthe E-DPCCH data, demodulates the E-DPDCH data, and outputs E-DCH data.The demodulating unit further piggybacks, as E-HICH data, a demodulationjudgment result (ACK/NACK info) for E-DPDCH onto the E-HICH. Whencontrol information (RRC_signalling) including setting information(CH_config) etc. is included in the DCH data or E-DCH data inputted fromthe demodulating unit 309, the media access control unit 302 extractsthe control information and outputs this information to the radioresource control unit 201. When the inputted DCH data or E-DCH data aredata associated with a higher-level protocol layer (not shown), themedia access control unit 302 outputs them to the higher-level protocollayer as upper layer data (DTCH).

Next, transmission control for both the DCH and the E-DCH by the mobilestation 102 will be explained with reference to the structure of thecommunications system shown in above-mentioned FIGS. 1 to 3 and processflows shown in FIGS. 4 to 12. FIG. 4 is a flow chart explaining thewhole of a DCH/E-DCH transmission control process carried out by themobile station in accordance with Embodiment 1 of the present invention.In FIG. 4, TFC restriction step 402 corresponds to a TFC restrictionprocess of the transmission setting evaluating unit 203 of the mobilestation, TFC selection step 403 corresponds to a TFC selection processof the transmission rate control unit 204, E-TFC restriction step 405corresponds to a E-TFC restriction process of the transmission settingevaluating unit 203 of the mobile station, and E-TFC selection step 406corresponds to a E-TFC selection process of the transmission ratecontrol unit 204. The temporal sequence of the processes in TFCrestriction step, TFC selection step, E-TFC restriction step, and E-TFCselection step can be derived from nonpatent reference 3. A detailedtransmission control flow will be explained with reference to FIG. 5 andsubsequent figures, and a whole flow will be explained with reference toFIG. 4. First, it is judged whether there are any data which are to betransmitted while being piggybacked onto the DCH during the nexttransmission time interval (TTI) of the DCH. Judgment of whether or notthe DCH has been set up is also included in this judgment. As describedin nonpatent reference 3, higher priority is given to the ensuring ofuplink radio resources for DCH transmission than to the ensuring ofradio resources for E-DCH transmission. When the judgment result showsYES, the sequence is shifted to next step 402. In contrast, when thejudgment result shows NO, the process about the DCH is omitted and thesequence is then shifted to step 404 (step 401). Next, for each of oneor more transmission rates (TFC) for DCH transmission, a state isdetermined and available transmission rates are restricted (step 402).Next, one transmission rate (TFC) which is to be used is determined outof the available transmission rates (TFC) for DCH which are restrictedin step 402 (step 403). It is further judged whether there are any datawhich are to be transmitted via the E-DCH at the next transmissiontiming (TTI) for the E-DCH. Judgment of whether the E-DCH has been setup is also included in this judgment. When the judgment result showsYES, the sequence is shifted to next step 405. In contrast, when thejudgment result shows NO, the process about the E-DCH is omitted and thesequence is shifted to step 407 (step 404).

Next, for each of one or more transmission rates (E-TFC) for E-DCHtransmission, a state is determined and available transmission rates arerestricted (step 405). Next, one transmission rate (E-TFC) which is tobe used is determined out of the available transmission rates for E-DCHrestricted in step 405 (step 406). Next, channel power required for theDPDCH and channel power required for the E-DPDCH, and the total transmitpower are controlled on the basis of the TFC and the E-TFC which aredetermined as above. At this time, when the total transmit powerestimated exceeds maximum total transmit power (Pmax), it is checked tosee whether the total transmit power can be reduced to be equal to orsmaller than the maximum total transmit power (Pmax) by lowering thegain factor of only the E-DPDCH. When the DCH is set up, the minimum ofthe gain factor βed,eff of the E-DPDCH can be reduced to zero. Incontrast, when no DCH is set up, the gain factor βed,eff can be reducedto its preset minimum. When the gain factor βed,eff of the E-DPDCH isset to zero, E-DPDCH data are untransmitted, but E-DPCCH data aretransmitted even in this case. When the total transmit power estimatedexceeds the maximum total transmit power (Pmax) even if a channel powerscaling on only the single E-DPDCH as mentioned above is performed, thepowers of all the channels are set up in such a manner that anadditional scaling (Additional scalling) is performed equally on each ofthem (step 407). Details of the total transmit power control will bementioned later. Next, it is checked whether or not the transmissiontime interval (TTI) setting for E-DCH is 10 ms. This is because either10 ms or 2 ms can be set as the length of the TTI of the E-DCH, andtherefore, when the length of the TTI of the E-DCH is 2 ms, the TTI ofthe E-DCH is completed before the TTI of the DCH is completed. When thejudgment result shows YES, the sequence is shifted to next step 409. Incontrast, because the process about the E-DCH is performed when thejudgment result shows NO, the sequence is shifted to step 404 (step408). Next, it is checked whether all data transmissions have beencompleted. When the judgment result shows YES, all the processes areended. In contrast, when the judgment result shows NO, the sequence isshifted to first step 401 (step 409).

A relation between the flow of the transmission process about the DCH,which is shown in FIG. 4, and the internal structure of the mobilestation shown in FIG. 2 will be explained below in detail with referenceto FIG. 5. Among the steps of FIG. 5, steps 501 to 504 show theoperation of the transmission setting evaluating unit 203, and steps 505to 509 show the operations of the transmission rate control unit 204,the modulating unit 206, and the transmitting unit 206. Although theprocesses of steps 501 to 504 and the processes of steps 505 to 509 arecarried out in parallel, a flow of a sequence of processes associatedwith a one-time transmission of data (packets) is shown by steps 501,502, 503, 506, 507, and 508 and is not contradictory to the explanationof FIG. 4. At an early stage of communications, on the basis of arequest for the communications from the mobile station 102 or theexternal network 105, initial settings of various radio resources, suchas a setup of channels used for the communications, a setting of thetransmission rate, and a timing setting, are determined between theradio resource control units of the fixed station and the mobile station102. The above-mentioned initialization processing is a known operationwhich is defined by the conventional standards (release 1999 or release5). In the mobile station 102, the above-mentioned various pieces ofsetting information notified are stored in the radio resource controlunit 201. The radio resource control unit 201 outputs the settinginformation (CH_config) to the transmission setting evaluating unit 203in order to control the operation setting of each unit included in themobile station 102.

The operation of the transmission setting evaluating unit 203 shown inFIG. 5 will be explained. The transmission setting evaluating unit 203checks to see whether a setup of a DCH transmission has been made first(step 501). The transmission setting evaluating unit 203 then estimatesor calculates a transmit power margin (step 502). FIG. 6 is a flow chartexplaining the details of the process of step 502 in which thetransmission setting evaluating unit estimates the transmit powermargin. The transmission setting evaluating unit 203 inputs the averagetotal transmit power information (UE transmit power info) from thetransmit power measurement and control unit 208. The transmissionsetting evaluating unit also checks the physical channels via which datahave been actually transmitted. The transmission setting evaluating unitfurther checks the total transmit power value (Pmax) which the mobilestation can transmit from either the maximum total transmit powersetting information included in the various settings (CH_config) or amobile station capability value (step 502 a). The transmission settingevaluating unit 202 further estimates the sum total (Pdchs) of thetransmit powers of the DPDCH, the DPCCH, and the HS-DPCCH on the basisof the gain factors which correspond to the channels via which data havebeen actually transmitted (step 502 b). There can be a method ofestimating (calculating) the sum total from, for example, the absolutevalue of the DPCCH power and the various gain factors according to thefollowing equation (1):

[Equation 1]

Pdchs=DPCCH Power×(βd ² +βc ² +βhs ²)/βc ²  (1)

Next, the total transmit power margin (Pmargin) can be calculated fromthe above-mentioned Pmax value and the above-mentioned sum total (Pdchs)of the transmit powers according to the following equation (2) (step 502c):

[Equation 2]

Pmargin=Pmax−Pdchs  (2)

According to the configuration of the channels which are multiplexed,the transmission setting evaluating unit can skip step 502 b anddirectly calculate the total transmit power margin (Pmargin) from thetotal transmitted average power information (UE transmit power), theTFC, the tc information, and power offset information for DPDCH andHS-DPCCH. As another example of the method, there can be provided amethod of assuming a total transmit power margin which does not take Phsinto consideration, and reflecting the HS-DPCCH transmission in the DCHtransmission by using an additional channel transmit power scaling whichwill be mentioned later. The above-mentioned (2) equation is used in acase in which a true value is displayed.

Next, the transmission setting evaluating unit 203 checks to see whetherthe setup of a DCH transmission has been completed (or deleted), and,when YES, ends the flow, whereas when NO (when the transmission settingis not deleted), the transmission setting evaluating unit repeats theabove process (step 504).

FIG. 7 is a flow chart explaining the details of the process of TFCrestriction step 503. First, the transmission setting evaluating unit203 checks to whether the estimated total transmit power exceeds themaximum total transmit power (Pmax) at a past or current transmissiontiming (=slot) (i.e., whether or not there is any margin in the totaltransmit power). When YES (i.e., when the estimated total transmit powerreaches Pmax), the transmission setting evaluating unit shifts to step702, whereas when NO, the transmission setting evaluating unit repeatsthe process at the next transmission timing (step 701). Next, when theE-DCH is set up, the transmission setting evaluating unit checks to seewhether the total transmit power exceeds the maximum total transmitpower unless data are transmitted via the E-DPCCH (Pmax). When NO (i.e.,when the total transmit power does not exceed Pmax unless data aretransmitted via the E-DPCCH), the transmission setting evaluating unitshifts to step 701, whereas when YES, it shifts to next step 703 (step702). Next, the transmission setting evaluating unit 203 increases aninternal counter thereof (not shown) according to the TFC which has beenused, and evaluates the state of each TFC on the basis of the number ofslots and the state transition conditions which are defined by thestandards (step 703). The transmission setting evaluating unit thenoutputs the state information about each TFC or a set of available TFCs(a TFC subset) to the transmission rate control unit 204 (step 704). Thetransmission setting evaluating unit then checks to see whether the DCHtransmission has been completed (i.e., the DCH setting has beencompleted). When YES (i.e., when any DCH data are untransmitted), thetransmission setting evaluating unit ends the process flow and shifts tostep 504, whereas when NO, the transmission setting evaluating unitshifts to step 701 (step 705).

As mentioned above, the mobile station restricts available TFCs in theTFC selection process flow during every predetermined unit timeinterval. This evaluation is performed for all the TFCs included in theTFCS using the estimated margin of the total transmit power. When noHS-DPCCH data are transmitted within a measurement time interval, anestimation of a transmit power margin for a certain TFC is performedusing the TFC, gain factors, and reference transmit power of eachchannel (each of the DPDCH and the DPCCH). In this case, a transmissiontime interval is one slot which is decided by the timing of slots forthe DCH (DPDCH/DPCCH). The reference transmit power is transmit power ofeach channel during a specific measurement time interval, the transmitpower being used at the time of an estimation of a certain transmitpower margin. When HS-DPCCH data are transmitted during part or all of ameasurement time interval, an estimation of a transmit power margin fora certain TFC is performed by using the TFC and gain factors of eachchannel (each of the DPDCH and the DPCCH), a maximum of the gain factorof the HS-DPCCH which is used within the measurement time interval, andthe reference transmit power.

The operational processes of the transmission rate control unit 204, themodulating unit 205, and the transmitting unit 206 which are shown insteps 505 to 509 of FIG. 5 will be explained. First, the transmissionrate control unit 204 checks to see whether a setup of a DCHtransmission has been made. When YES, the transmission rate control unitshifts to step 502, whereas when NO, the transmission rate control unitrepeats the processing (step 505). When there exist data which are to betransmitted at the next transmission timing, the transmission ratecontrol unit checks to see whether information (TFC state) about anupdate of the states of TFCs has reached from the transmission settingevaluating unit 203, and, when there is a change in the states of TFCs,the transmission rate control unit updates information about the statesof TFCs (step 506). The transmission rate control unit 204 then selectsone TFC which is to be used for the next transmission time interval(TTI) (step 507). As the method of selecting one TFC, there can beprovided a known method of selecting one TFC in such a manner that alarger amount of data associated with a channel with a higher priorityamong the higher-level protocol layer channels (the DTCH and the DCCH)can be transmitted.

Next, a DCH transmission is performed by using the DPDCH and the DPCCH(step 508). The details of step 508 will be mentioned later togetherwith a flow of a E-DCH transmission process. The mobile station thenchecks to see whether the transmission of DCH data has been completed,and, when YES, ends the processes, whereas when NO, the mobile stationreturns to step 505 (step 509). Extracting the flow of the transmissionprocess about the E-DCH from FIG. 4, a relation between the transmissionprocess flow and the internal structure of the mobile station shown inFIG. 2 will be explained below in detail with reference to FIG. 8. Thewhole of the process flow is the same as that shown in FIG. 5. Steps 801to 804 of FIG. 8 show the operation of the transmission settingevaluating unit 203, and steps 805 to 809 show the operations of thetransmission rate control unit 204, the modulating unit 206, and thetransmitting unit 206. Although the processes of steps 801 to 804 andthe processes of step 805 to 809 are carried out in parallel, processingassociated with a one-time transmission of E-DCH data (packets) is shownby steps 801, 802, 803, 806, 807, and 808, and is not contradictory tothe explanation of FIG. 4. At an early stage of communications, on thebasis of a request for the communications from the mobile station 102 orthe external network 105, initial settings of various radio resources,such as a setup of channels used for the communications, a setting ofthe transmission rate, and a timing setting, are determined between theradio resource control units of the fixed station and the mobile station102. In the mobile station 102, the above-mentioned various pieces ofsetting information notified are stored in the radio resource controlunit 201. The radio resource control unit 201 outputs the settinginformation (CH_config) to the transmission setting evaluating unit 203in order to control the operation setting of each unit included in themobile station 102.

The operation of the transmission setting evaluating unit 203 in steps801 to 804 of FIG. 8 will be explained. A detailed explanation of thesame operation steps as those in the DCH transmission control flow shownin FIG. 5 will be omitted. The transmission setting evaluating unit 203checks to see whether a setup of a E-DCH transmission has been madefirst (step 501). The transmission setting evaluating unit 203 thenestimates or calculates a transmit power margin for control of E-DCHtransmissions (step 502). FIG. 9 is a flow chart for explaining theprocess of estimating the transmit power margin. The details of step 802are shown in FIG. 9. The transmission setting evaluating unit 203 inputsthe average total transmit power information (UE transmit power info)from the transmit power measurement and control unit 208 first. Thetransmission setting evaluating unit also checks channels via which datahave been actually transmitted. Channels which comply with old releases,such as the DPDCH, are also included in the channels to be checked. Thetransmission setting evaluating unit further checks the total transmitpower value (Pmax) which the mobile station can transmit from themaximum total transmit power setting information included in the varioussettings (CH_config) (step 802 a). The transmission setting evaluatingunit then estimates the sum total (Pdchsec) of the transmit powers ofDPDCH, DPCCH, HS-DPCCH, and E-DPCCH on the basis of the gain factors ofpast or current transmit channels (step 802 b). Concretely, thetransmission setting evaluating unit estimates the sum total (Pdchsec)of the transmit powers from, for example, the absolute value of theDPCCH power and various gain factors by using the following equation(3):

[Equation 3]

Pchsec=DPCCH Power×(βd ² +βc ² +βhs ² +βec ²)/βc ²  (3)

Next, the transmission setting evaluating unit calculates a totaltransmit power margin (Pmargin2) which does not include E-DCH capablechannel power from the above-mentioned Pmax value and theabove-mentioned sum total (Pdchsec) of the transmit powers by using thefollowing equation (4) (step 802 c):

[Equation 4]

Pmargin2=Pmax−Pdchsec  (4)

According to the real structure of the transmit channels which aremultiplexed, instead of the equation (4), the transmission settingevaluating unit can acquire the total transmit power margin from (1) theaverage total transmit power information (UE transmit power), (2) theE-TFC, (3) the βed information, and (4) power offset information onother channels which is based on the DPCCH, and so on. The transmissionsetting evaluating unit can alternatively skip step 402 b and thencalculate the total transmit power margin (Pmargin) directly. Theabove-mentioned (4) equation is used in a case of subtracting a truevalue.

Next, in step 803 of FIG. 8, the transmission setting evaluating unitevaluates the state of the E-TFC used for transmission and restrictsavailable E-TFCs (E-TFC Restriction). The transmission settingevaluating unit 203 notifies the state information about the state ofeach E-TFC to the transmission rate control unit 204 (step 803). Forexample, as the state information about the state of each E-TFC, thetransmission setting evaluating unit can notify that the “state” of acertain E-TFC is either “unavailable (blocked)” or “available(supported)” or can notify available (supported) E-TFCs.

FIG. 10 is a flow chart explaining a process of evaluating the state ofa E-TFC and restricting available E-TFCs. The details of step 803 ofFIG. 8 are shown in FIG. 10. First, the transmission setting evaluatingunit 203 calculates the gain factor (Red) corresponding to the E-TFCused at a past or current transmission timing (=slot) which is definedby the standards. From the gain factor (βed) and the power offsetinformation in the HARQ profile, the transmission setting evaluatingunit acquires the effective channel amplitude coefficient (the gainfactor βed,eff) of the E-DPDCH, and estimates E-DPDCH channel powerwhich corresponds to the used E-TFC and which is originally needed fortransmission (step 803 a). Next, the transmission setting evaluatingunit checks to see whether the estimated E-DPDCH channel power exceedsthe total transmit power margin (Pmargin) at the above-mentionedtransmission timing (i.e., whether or not there is a margin in thetransmit power?) (step 803 b). When YES in step 803 b (i.e., when theestimated E-DPDCH channel power exceeds the total transmit power margin(Pmargin)), the transmission setting evaluating unit shifts to step 803c and increments an inner counter (not shown) which corresponds to theE-TFC. When NO in step 803 b, the transmission setting evaluating unitshifts to step 803 g (step 803 b). After processing step 803 c, thetransmission setting evaluating unit then evaluates the state of eachE-TFC on the basis of the number of slots (or the number of counters)and the state transition conditions which are defined by the standards(steps 803 c and 803 d). Next, the transmission setting evaluating unitoutputs the state information about the state of each E-TFC or a set ofavailable E-TFCs (a E-TFC subset) to the transmission rate control unit204 (step 803 e). The transmission setting evaluating unit then checksto see whether the E-DCH transmission has been completed (i.e., whetherthe E-DCH setting has been completed). When YES (i.e., when any E-DCHdata are untransmitted), the transmission setting evaluating unit endsthe process flow, whereas when NO, the transmission setting evaluatingunit shifts to step 803 a (step 803 f).

When No in step 803 b, the transmission setting evaluating unit, in step803 g, checks whether the total transmit power of the mobile stationreaches the maximum total transmit power (Pmax) in the E-TFC which isused at the past or current transmission timing (=slot). When YES instep 803 g, the transmission setting evaluating unit shifts to step 803h, whereas when NO, the transmission setting evaluating unit shifts tostep 803 d (step 803 g). The transmission setting evaluating unit, instep 803 h, checks to see whether a channel power scaling on onlyE-DPDCH channel has been performed at the time of a E-DPCCHtransmission, and whether or the E-DPDCH channel is in a state ofuntransmission (DTX: Discontinuous Transmission). When YES (i.e., in acase of DTX), the transmission setting evaluating unit increments acorresponding counter in step 803 c. When NO, the transmission settingevaluating unit shifts to step 803 d in which the transmission settingdoes not increment the counter and does not reflect it in the E-TFCrestriction process.

When carrying out the E-TFC restriction process of step 803 which isexplained with reference to FIG. 10, as mentioned above, thetransmission setting evaluating unit then checks to see whether step 804has been carried out and the transmission of E-DCH data has beencompleted. When the transmission has not been completed (i.e., when NOin step 804), the transmission setting evaluating unit returns to step801. When the transmission is completed (when YES in step 804), thetransmission setting evaluating unit ends the flow.

As mentioned above, the mobile station performs the E-TFC selectionprocess during every predetermined transmission time interval (TTI) soas to evaluate which E-TFC is available and to select one E-TFC.

This evaluation is performed for each of all the E-TFCs included in theE-TFCS by using the estimated transmit power margin (i.e. the estimatedtotal transmit power of each channel other than the E-DPDCH and themaximum total transmit power (Pmax)). When no HS-DPCCH data aretransmitted within a measurement time interval, an estimation of atransmit power margin for a certain E-TFC is performed using theTFC/E-TFC, gain factor, and reference transmit power of each channel(each of the DPDCH, the DPCCH, the E-DPDCH, and the E-DPCCH). In thiscase, a transmission time interval is, for example, one slot which isdecided by the timing of slots for the DCH (DPDCH/DPCCH) or 1 TTI ofE-DCH transmission. The reference transmit power is transmit power ofeach channel during a specific measurement time interval, the transmitpower being used at the time of an estimation of a certain transmitpower margin. In contrast, when HS-DPCCH data are transmitted during apart or all of a measurement time interval, an estimation of a transmitpower margin for a certain E-TFC is performed by using the TFC (E-TFC)and gain factor of each channel (each of the DPDCH, the DPCCH, theE-DPDCH, and the E-DPCCH), a maximum of the gain factor of the HS-DPCCHwhich is used during the measurement time interval, and the referencetransmit power.

For channels other than the DPCCH, a power offset which is based on theDPCCH channel power can be used instead of the gain factors.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, whether only the E-DPDCH has been inthe untransmission state (DTX) is taken into consideration in the E-TFCrestriction, though a channel power reduction on only E-DPDCH (i.e., areduction in the gain factors) can be taken into consideration. Anexample in this case will be explained in Embodiment 3 which will bementioned later. In this embodiment, the transmission setting evaluatingunit estimates the E-DPDCH channel power which is originally needed onlyfor the E-TFC which is used at the past or current transmission timing(=slot) (step 803 a). The transmission setting evaluating unit canalternatively estimate E-DPDCH channel power which is originally neededfor each of all the E-TFCs so as to determine the state of each E-TFC.

The operational processes of the transmission rate control unit 204, themodulating unit 205, and the transmitting unit 206 shown in FIG. 8 willbe explained. First, the transmission rate control unit 204 checks tosee whether a setup of a E-DCH transmission has been made, as in thecase of FIG. 8( a) (step 805). Next, the transmission rate control unitchecks to see whether update information about an update of the E-TFCstate has reached from the transmission setting evaluating unit 204,and, when update information has reached, updates the state (step 806).Next, as known, on the basis of the scheduling result information whichis extracted from received E-AGCH and E-RGCH data, the transmission ratecontrol unit updates the value of a variable (Serving_Grant) used forthe internal settings of the mobile station, and selects one E-TFC whichis used during the next transmission time interval (TTI) on the basis ofthis internal variable and the E-TFC state information (step 807). As amethod of selecting one E-TFC, one of the following methods: (1) amethod of selecting one E-TFC in such a manner that the E-DPDCH channelpower (or the ratio of channel powers) falls within a permissible rangeby strictly applying the internal variable and the E-TFC stateinformation; (2) a method of, while strictly applying the internalvariable, selecting one E-TFC by acquiring, for example, an average ofE-TFC states during some past TTIs and further making a margincorrection to the average; (3) a method of selecting one E-TFC inconsideration of an accumulation of transmit power control commands(TPCs) in addition to the internal variable and the E-TFC stateinformation; and (4) a method of temporarily permitting a selection ofone E-TFC which exceeds the internal variable can be provided. Themethod is executed according to the implementation of the mobile stationor the definitions of the standards.

FIG. 11 is a flow chart explaining the E-TFC selection process (E-TFCselection). The details of step 807 of FIG. 8 are shown in FIG. 11. InFIG. 11, the transmission rate control unit checks to see whether thetransmission of data is the first-time one or a retransmission. When thetransmission is the first-time one (i.e., when YES in step 807 a), themobile station shifts to step 807 b. In contrast, when the transmissionis a retransmission (i.e., when NO in step 807 a), the transmission ratecontrol unit shifts to step 807 d (step 807 a). When the transmission isthe first-time one, the transmission rate control unit selects availableE-TFCs which fall within the limits of the total transmit power margin(step 807 b). As a method of selecting an E-TFC in step 807 b, there canbe methods including: (1) a method in such a manner that the data ofMAC-d flow with a higher priority in QoS setting which is multiplexedonto the E-DCH can be transmitted with a higher speed; and (2) a methodin such a manner a channel (or data) with a higher priority which isused for a higher-level protocol can be transmitted with a higher speed.Which one of the methods is used is defined by either the technicalspecification or the specifications of the implementation of thecommunications system. Next, the transmission rate control unitcalculates the effective gain factor βed,eff of the E-DPDCH from theE-TFC selected in step 807 b, and, after that, outputs it, as well asthe E-TFC information, to both the transmission setting evaluating unit203 and the modulating unit 205. At this time, when data associated withother channels are transmitted, the gain factors of the other channelsare also outputted (step 807 c). In contrast, when, in step 807 a, thetransmission is a retransmission (i.e., when NO in step 807 a), thetransmission rate control unit shifts to step 807 c without performingthe E-TFC selection process (step 807 d). Next, the transmission ratecontrol unit shifts to step 808 of FIG. 8.

Next, a transmission of E-DCH data is performed by using the E-DPDCH andthe E-DPCCH. The modulating unit 204 determines a relative power ratioamong the channels on the basis of the gain factor of each of thetransmit channels (the E-DPDCH and the E-DPCCH), and multiplexes andmodulates the data associated with the channels using a known technique.After that, frequency conversion and power amplification are performedon the modulated signal and this signal is transmitted from the antenna207. The details of the transmission process will be mentioned latertogether with the DCH transmission process (step 808). Next, the mobilestation, in step 809 of FIG. 8, checks to see whether the E-DCHtransmission has been completed, and, when YES (i.e., when the E-DCHtransmission has been completed), ends the transmission process flow.When NO, the mobile station shifts to step 805 and then repeats theabove-mentioned steps.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart explaining a transmit power control processcarried out by the mobile station. The details of step 407 of FIG. 4 areshown in FIG. 12. First, the transmit power measurement and control unit208 estimates the total transmit power (Estimated UE transmit power)required for transmission at the next transmission timing (during thenext slot or TTI) on the basis of the gain factors of channels via whichdata are to be transmitted actually and a closed loop transmit powercontrol command (TPC). The transmit power measurement and control unit208 then checks to see whether the estimated total transmit power(Estimated UE transmit power) exceeds the maximum transmit power settingPmax (step 407 a). When the estimated total transmit power does notexceed Pmax (i.e., when NO), the transmit power measurement and controlunit 208 outputs transmit power control information (Po_cont) to thetransmitting unit 206, and the transmitting unit carries out thetransmission process of step 407 i. When the estimated total transmitpower exceeds Pmax (i.e., when YES), the transmit power measurement andcontrol unit shifts to step 407 b. Next, the transmit power measurementand control unit 208, in the process steps of 407 b, 407 c 1, 407 c 2,407 d 1, 407 d 2, 407 e 1, 407 e 2, 407 f 1, and 407 f 2, reduces thevalue of only the gain factor βed,eff of the E-DPDCH so as to reduce thetotal transmit power. For example, in this case, when the DPDCH is setup (i.e., when YES in step 407 b), the transmit power measurement andcontrol unit can lower the value of βed,eff to zero (i.e., can perform aDTX operation), whereas when the DPDCH is not set up (i.e., when NO instep 407 b), the transmit power measurement and control unit can lowerthe value of βed,eff to a guaranteed minimum (βed,eff,min) which isnotified to the mobile station. Because the gain factor βed,eff has tohave a quantized discrete specified value, when the gain factor which islowered in step 407 c 1 or 407 c 2 has a value intermediate between twoadjacent discrete specified values, the gain factor is set to have asmaller one of the discrete values. The transmit power measurement andcontrol unit makes the estimated total transmit power get close to themaximum transmit power setting Pmax through the above-mentionedprocesses.

The transmit power measurement and control unit 208 outputs a gainfactor control signal (β_cont) to the modulating unit 205 so as tomodify the final gain factor setting for E-DPDCH. The transmit powermeasurement and control unit 208 also outputs transmit power controlinformation (Po_cont) to the transmitting unit 205. Next, the transmitpower measurement and control unit 208, in step 407 g, checks to seewhether the estimated total transmit power exceeds the maximum transmitpower setting Pmax again. When the estimated total transmit power doesnot exceed the maximum transmit power setting (i.e., when NO in step 407g), while shifting to step 407 i, the transmit power measurement andcontrol unit outputs control information (Po_cont) to the transmittingunit 205. In contrast, when the estimated total transmit power exceedsPmax (when YES in step 407 g), the transmit power measurement andcontrol unit shifts to step 407 h and, while maintaining the relativeratio among the transmit powers of the channels, performs additionalchannel transmit power scaling control (Additional scaling or Equalscaling) in such a manner that the total transmit power does not exceedPmax. Then, while outputting the transmit power control information(Po_cont) in which this additional power scaling control is reflected tothe transmitting unit 206, the transmit power measurement and controlunit shifts to step 407 i (step 407 g).

Next, the transmitting unit 206 amplifies the modulated signal(Mod_signal) on the basis of the inputted control information (Po_cont),and outputs the amplified modulated signal as a radio signal(RF_signal). The outputted radio signal (RF_signal) is transmitted byradio from the antenna 207 to the base station 103 (step 407 i). Whenthe final gain factor of the E-DPDCH becomes zero, E-DPCCH data aretransmitted while any E-DPDCH data are untransmitted. After that, themobile station shifts to step 408 of FIG. 4. The concept of processingin steps 407 b to 507 h is defined by the technical specification. Next,the mobile station, in step 408 of FIG. 4, checks to see whether or notthe length of the transmission time interval (TTI) of the E-DCH is 10ms. This is because there can be a case in which the length of the TTIof the E-DCH is 2 ms while the length of the TTI of the DCH is 10 ms.Because the TTI of the E-DCH is completed during a DCH transmission in acase in which the length of the TTI of the E-DCH is 2 ms, the mobilestation shifts to step 404 and repeats the control.

Next, the mobile station checks to see whether each transmission via theDCH and each transmission via the E-DCH have been completed (or whethertheir settings have been released). When each transmission via the DCHand each transmission via the E-DCH have not been completed, i.e., whenNO, the mobile station returns to step 405. When each transmission viathe DCH and each transmission via the E-DCH have been completed, i.e.,when YES, the mobile station ends the flow (step 409 of FIG. 4). Theprocess flow of an E-TFC evaluation is processed independently of a TFCevaluation for the DCH. As a result, while the backward compatibility(Backward compatibility) is ensured, the transmission control of themobile station becomes simple. Furthermore, the transmission ratecontrol unit 203 processes a E-TFC selection independently of a TFCselection for the DCH. As a result, the transmission control of themobile station becomes simple while the backward compatibility (Backwardcompatibility) is ensured, as in the case of the transmission settingevaluating unit 202. A concrete operation of a TFC evaluation for theDCH is carried out on the basis of the specifications of the maximumtransmit power setting, as defined by a conventional technology.

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are explanatory drawings schematically showing thetransmit power and the transmit power margin of each channel forexplaining the specifications of the maximum total transmit power (Pmax)of the mobile station. Hereafter, the Pmax setting and the referencewhich are used for an estimation (or a calculation) of the transmitpower margin will be explained. In FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, Pmax(Capability or NW) shows either the maximum transmit power which themobile station can output with its capability (UE capability) or themaximum transmit power setting notified from the radio resource controlunit 301 of the fixed station. The mobile station cannot transmit anydata with the total transmit power which exceeds this value during itsoperation. Pmax (βd, βc) shows a Pmax specified value in a case in whichdata are transmitted via the HS-DPCCH which is a channel for HSDPA andthe E-DCH is not set up (or any E-DCH data are untransmitted), and isset to a value lower than the above-mentioned Pmax (Capability)according to the technical specification TS25.101. Pmax (βd, βc, βhs,βed(,eff), βec) shows a Pmax specified value in a case in which theE-DCH is set up (or when E-DCH data are transmitted). In accordance withthis embodiment, assume that Pmax (Capability or NW)>=Pmax (βd,βc)>=Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec). As in the case of Pmax (βd, βc)at the time of an HS-DPCCH transmission, there can be a case in whichPmax has a specified value which does not depend upon the gain factor ofthe corresponding channel, and whether Pmax includes all the gainfactors is determined dependently upon a PAR (Peak to Average Ratio) ofthe radio signal (RF_signal), and so on. As an alternative, differentspecifications can be provided for the time of a transmission of channeldata for E-DCH and for the time of a non-transmission of channel datafor E-DCH, respectively. These various Pmax value settings are definedby the technical specifications, or are notified from the fixed station.In the technical specification of release 5 which is a conventionaltechnology, Pmax (Capability) of Pmax (Capability or NW) and Pmax (βd,βc) are defined. Pmax can be defined so as to include, as parameters,the amount of power offset of each channel from the DPCCH power, such asthe power offset of the E-DDPCH channel which is determined from theHARQ profile. When Pmax includes the power offset explicitly, forexample, Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed, ΔE-DPDCH, βec), Pmax (βc, ΔDPDCH,ΔHS-DPCCH, ΔE-DPCCH, ΔE-DPDCH), or the like is provided. When Pmaxincludes the power offset implicitly, Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed,eff, βec)or the like is provided.

Each of FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 can also be considered to show a relationbetween a combination of channels at the time of a transmission and aPmax specified value. In the figures, the vertical axis shows thetransmit power and the horizontal axis shows the radio-wave-propagationdistance from the fixed station. The transmit power of each channelshows a relative relation, but does not show any absolute magnitude.“Additional channel transmit power scaling 1” (Additional scaling 1) inthe figure shows a region where an additional channel transmit powerscaling (Additional scaling) process is applied in a state in which onlyDPDCH/DPCCH data are transmitted or in a state in which the HSDPA is setup, but any HS-DPCCH data are not transmitted. At this time, DPDCH dataare transmitted at a minimum transmission rate (TFC, min), and the totaltransmit power is limited to Pmax (Capability or NW) with the powerratio between the transmit power of the DPDCH and that of anotherchannel (DPCCH) being maintained.

“Additional channel transmit power scaling 2” (Additional scaling 2) inthe figure shows a region where an additional channel transmit powerscaling (Additional scaling) process is applied in a state in whichDPDCH/DPCCH/HS-DPCCH data are transmitted or in a state in which theE-DCH is set up, but any E-DPDCH/E-DPCCH data are not transmitted.Because HS-DPCCH data are transmitted, the total transmit power islimited by Pmax (βd, βc). “Additional channel transmit power scaling 3”(Additional scaling 3) shows a region where an additional channeltransmit power scaling (Additional scaling) is applied in a state inwhich DPDCH/DPCCH/HS-DPCCH/E-DPCCH data are transmitted. At this time,although E-DPDCH data can be transmitted at a transmission ratedetermined by the transmission rate control unit, any E-DPDCH data areuntransmitted (DTX) because the gain factor can be reduced to zero.Because a channel for E-DCH is set up, the total transmit power islimited by Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec).

A case of FIG. 13 will be explained below. FIG. 13 corresponds to a casein which a DCH transmission, a E-DCH transmission, and an HS-DPCCHtransmission are set up. In a status in which the mobile station movesaway from the fixed station while transmitting data via all the uplinkchannels, because the transmit power of the mobile station is controlledby performing known closed loop transmit power control (so-called TPCcontrol) which is defined by the technical specification so as to ensurethe reception power in the receive antenna of the fixed station (to bemore precise, Eb/NO of reception required in order to ensure a requirederror rate), the transmit power of each of all the channels is increasedwith distance from the fixed station. In a region A shown in FIG. 13,although data are transmitted via all the channels, the total transmitpower reaches neither of the Pmax values. In a region B, the totaltransmit power reaches the Pmax specified value (Pmax (βd, βc, βhs,βed(,eff), βec)) at the time of a setup of a E-DCH transmission. Becausea higher priority is given to a transmission via the E-DCH than to atransmission via the DCH and channel data for E-DCH are transmittedwithin the limits of the transmit power margin, only the transmit powerof the channel for E-DCH is decreased with distance from the fixedstation. The decrease in the transmit power of the channel for E-DCHmeans that the transmission rate (E-TFC) of a E-DCH selected at the timeof a E-TFC selection decreases. Because the gain factor of the E-DPDCHchannel can be reduced to zero, the additional channel power scaling 3(Additional scaling 3) is applied.

Because at the time of the E-TFC selection process a E-TFC is selectedin such a manner that the E-DPDCH transmit power falls within the limitsof the transmit power margin, ideally, no additional channel powerscaling operation occurs. However, depending on the method of estimatingthe transmit power margin, there is a possibility that the state at thetime of a E-TFC selection differs from the actual state at the time of astart of a transmission due to an influence of a measurement delay andso on. In this case, an additional channel power scaling operation maybe performed. In contrast, because transmit power control (what iscalled TPC control) on a slot-by-slot basis is performed in each of TTItime intervals, the required total transmit power may exceed the maximumtransmit power specified value of the mobile station, and therefore anadditional channel transmit power scaling occurs theoretically. However,as explained in step 407 g of FIG. 12, before performing an additionalchannel power scaling, the mobile station performs a scaling operationon only the channel transmit power of the E-DPDCH per slot. Adetermination of whether to carry out an additional channel powerscaling operation or whether or not the data are the one on which anadditional channel scaling is to be performed can be made by the fixedstation, and can be notified to the mobile station through an RRCsignaling or the like, so that the operation of the mobile station iscontrolled.

In a region C, data on channels other than the channel for E-DCH aretransmitted. In this region, because the total transmit power reachesthe Pmax specified value (Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec)) with thetransmit powers of the channels other than the channel for E-DCH, thetotal transmit power can't afford to transmit any channel data forE-DCH. Because HS-DPCCH data are transmitted, Pmax is limited by Pmax(βd, βc) lower than Pmax (Capability or NW). Because a minimum rate(TFC, min) is set up for the DCH, when the total transmit power reachesPmax (βd, βc), the additional channel power scaling operation 2(Additional scaling 2) is applied. A region D is the one where data onthe channels other than those for the E-DCH are transmitted and anyHS-DPCCH data are not transmitted. In this region, because no HS-DPCCHdata are transmitted, Pmax (Capability or NW) is applied as the Pmaxspecified value. Because the minimum rate (TFC, min) is set up for theDCH, when the total transmit power reaches Pmax (Capability or NW), theadditional channel power scaling operation 1 (Additional scaling 1 inthe figure) is applied.

As the transmit power margin value for a transmission of E-DCH data(i.e., E-DPCDCH data), a value is estimated (calculated) by subtractingthe sum total of the powers of the channels(DPDCH/DPCCH/HS-DPCCH/E-DPCCH) excluding the E-DPDCH channel power fromeither of the above-mentioned Pmax specified values. As a method ofdefining a specified value (a setting) of Pmax (i.e., Pmax (βd, βc, βhs,βed(,eff), βec)) in a case in which the E-DCH is set up, there can beproviding various methods including: (1) a method of taking the transmitpower control (TPC) in steps of 1 dB into consideration, as in the caseof the conventional standards, and then defining the specified valuewith 1 dB of accuracy in a similar manner; (2) a method of taking thecharacteristics of radio signal waveforms, such as PAR (Peak to AverageRatio) characteristics depending on the channel configuration, intoconsideration, and then defining the specified value with a degree ofaccuracy finer than 1 dB; and (3) a method of defining the specifiedvalue using either a conventional degree of accuracy or a fine degree ofaccuracy properly according to whether or not the E-DCH is set up. Whichmethod is used is defined by the standards or is specified at the timewhen a communication setting (configuration) is made.

It is already defined that the channel amplitude (the gain factorβed(,eff)) of the E-DPDCH can have a larger value than that (the gainfactor βd) of the DPDCH. In this case, the characteristics of theE-DPDCH signal waveforms may become dominant, and the PAR (Peak toAverage Ratio) may become small compared with that in the case of aconfiguration having only conventional channels. Therefore, according tothe actual specifications, Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec) may becomelarger than the other Pmax specified values. Although FIG. 13 shows thatPmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec) used as the reference for anestimation of the transmit power margin for the E-DCH has a fixed value,a plurality of regions or a plurality of conditions can be alternativelyprovided and different values can be set to the plurality of regions orthe plurality of conditions, respectively.

A case of FIG. 14 will be explained below. Symbols and technical termsin the figure are the same as the corresponding ones of above-mentionedFIG. 13, respectively. FIG. 14 corresponds to a case in which a E-DCHtransmission and an HS-DPCCH transmission are set up, whereas any DCHtransmission is not set up. FIG. 14 differs from FIG. 13 in that becausethe DPDCH is not set up (any DPDCH data are untransmitted), a guaranteedminimum (βed,eff,min) is set to the gain factor of the E-DPDCH and theE-DPDCH is also scaled while the relative power ratio with the otherchannels is maintained in the additional channel scaling 3 in the regionB.

A case of FIG. 15 will be explained below. Symbols and technical termsin the figure are the same as the corresponding ones of above-mentionedFIGS. 13 and 14, respectively. FIG. 15 corresponds to a case in which aDCH transmission and an HS-DPCCH transmission are set up, whereas anyE-DCH transmission is not set up (any E-DCH data are untransmitted).This setting is the same as that in the case of the conventionaltechnology. FIG. 15 differs from FIGS. 13 and 14 in that because theE-DCH is not set up (any E-DCH data are untransmitted), the additionalchannel scaling 3 (Additional scalling 3 in the figure) in the region Bdoes not occur. The Pmax specified value for an estimation of thetransmit power margin for the DCH is selected from Pmax (Capability orNW) and Pmax (βd, βc) according to whether an HS-DPCCH transmission hasbeen performed.

The Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec) specified value in accordancewith Embodiment 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 16. In FIG.16, instead of directly defining Pmax using the gain factors, Pmax (βd,βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec) is defined equivalently by defining a maximumamount of reduction (MPR: Maximum Power Reduction) from thespecification of the mobile station's capability (Pmax (Capability))according to ON/OFF of transmission via each of channels including theDPCCH, the HS-DPCCH, the DPDCH, the E-DPCCH, and the E-DPDCH, theminimum diffusion coefficient (SF min) of the E-DPDCH which is set up,and the number (Ncodes) of parallel transmit channels of the E-DPDCH.Thus, because the specification parameters include ON/OFF oftransmission via each channel other than the gain factor of eachchannel, there is provided an advantage of eliminating a necessity totake into consideration a huge number of combinations depending uponcombinations of gain factors each having two or more specified values,thereby facilitating the transmission control of the mobile station andsimplifying the structure of the mobile station, such as reducing thesize of the storage area. Furthermore, because whether to perform atransmission is determined before the gain factors are calculated, thereis provided another advantage of being able to start the transmit powercontrol at an earlier time, and to enable the transmission controlcircuit to have a lower processing capability.

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control including a selection of thetransmission rate in a case in which a E-DCH channel is added, themethod of reducing the influence upon the conventional channels, and soon are defined, there is provided an advantage of being able to make thetransmission control operation of the mobile station become unique, andproviding an improvement in the efficiency of the operation of thecommunications system.

In this embodiment, although the margin of the total transmit power isexpressed in dimension of power (or a power ratio), in a case in whichthe notification method of notifying the scheduling results from thefixed station is one of the following methods: (1) a method of notifyinga gain factor (expressed in dB or true value); (2) a method of notifyinga ratio of gain factors (such as βed/βc, or βed,eff/βc, or expressed indB or true value); and (3) a method of notifying a power ratio(expressed in dB or true value), the transmit power margin can also bedefined in such a manner as to be expressed in the same dimension as thenotified results. As a result, the present embodiment offers anadvantage of eliminating the necessity to unite the dimensions at thetime of an evaluation of the E-TFC state, thereby simplifying thecontrol of the mobile station.

As the timing or time interval at or during which the transmissionsetting evaluating unit 203 defines the transmit power margin, there are(1) a margin of the last slot of a TTI which is located immediatelybefore TTIs in which data are actually transmitted; (2) an average ofmargins of all the slots of a TTI which is located immediately beforeTTIs in which data are actually transmitted; (3) an average of marginsof several slots of a TTI which are located immediately before TTIs inwhich data are actually transmitted; (4) an estimated value in the firstslot of TTIs in which data are actually transmitted, the value beingestimated in consideration of the closed-loop transmit power control;and (5) an estimated value in several slot of TTIs in which data areactually transmitted, the value being estimated in consideration of theclosed-loop transmit power control. In the case of (1), because thestatus of the transmit power margin at a time immediately before thetransmission can be taken into consideration, uplink radio resources canbe used more efficiently. In the case of (2), an average operationexcluding variations in TTIs can be carried out, an improper E-TFC canbe selected because of instantaneous variations in units of a slot inthe E-TFC selection for every TTI. In the case of (3), the E-TFC statecan be changed with a variation during a longer time period, forexample, a change in the propagation loss caused by a change in thedistance from the base station, or the like. In the case of (4) or (5),by taking into consideration the closed-loop transmit power control, theE-TFC evaluation and the E-TFC selection in consideration of thetendency of future variations are carried out, so that the uplink radioresources can be used more efficiently. The transmission timing of theabove-mentioned slots is synchronized with the slot timing of the uplinkDCHs (the DPDCH and the DPCCH). Similarly, an update of the E-TFC isalso carried out at the timing of a TTI which is synchronized with theslot timing of the DCHs (the DPDCH and the DPCCH). As the averagingmethod, there are (1) an arithmetic average, (2) a weighted average, (3)a geometric average, etc., and one of these averaging methods isselected dependently upon how the mobile station is implemented, or isdefined by the standards.

Embodiment 2

The Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec) specified value in accordancewith Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be explained withreference to FIG. 17. In FIG. 17, according to ON/OFF of transmission ofeach of channels including the DPCCH, the HS-DPCCH, the DPDCH, theE-DPCCH, and the E-DPDCH, and a minimum diffusion coefficient (SF min)and a maximum number (Ncodes) of parallel E-DPDCH transmissions whichare category specifications (Category) of the E-DCH as the mobilestation's capability, Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed(,eff), βec) is equivalentlydefined by defining a maximum amount of reduction (MPR: Maximum PowerReduction) from the specification of the mobile station's capability(Pmax (Capability)). More specifically, Pmax (βd, βc, βhs, βed, (eff),βec) includes, as a parameter, the mobile station's capability otherthan the channel transmission conditions that change every TTI. By thususing and defining the category specification (Category) of the E-DCH asa parameter, there is provided an advantage of eliminating a necessityto take into consideration a huge number of combinations depending uponcombinations of gain factors each having two or more specified values,thereby facilitating the transmission control of the mobile station andsimplifying the structure of the mobile station, such as reducing thesize of the storage area. Furthermore, because the specificationparameters include ON/OFF of a transmission via each channel other thanthe gain factor of each channel, as in the case of FIG. 16 of Embodiment1, there is provided an advantage of eliminating a necessity to takeinto consideration a huge number of combinations depending uponcombinations of gain factors each having two or more specified values,thereby facilitating the transmission control of the mobile station andsimplifying the structure of the mobile station, such as reducing thesize of the storage area. In addition, because whether to perform atransmission is determined before the gain factors are calculated, thereis provided another advantage of being able to start the transmit powercontrol at an earlier time, and to enable the transmission controlcircuit to have a lower processing capability. The gain factors can becombined, as a parameter, instead of ON/OFF of a transmission via eachchannel. As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, becausethe details of the transmission control in a case in which a E-DCHchannel is added are defined, there is provided an advantage of beingable to make the transmission control operation of the mobile stationbecome unique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of theoperation of the communications system. This embodiment explained abovecan be combined with Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 18 is a flow chart explaining a E-TFC restriction process ofevaluating the states of E-TFCs and restricting available E-TFCs. FIG.18 is shown for explaining in detail step 803 (the E-TFC restrictionprocess) of FIG. 8 explained in Embodiment 1, and includes some stepswhich are the same as those of the flow chart shown in FIG. 10.Therefore, in FIG. 18, because the same steps as those shown in FIG. 10mean the same processes or like processes, the explanation of the stepswill be omitted hereafter. In this embodiment, in the transmit powercontrol step (e.g., step 407 of FIG. 4 shown in Embodiment 1), when onlythe channel amplitude (βed) of the E-DPDCH is scaled (scaling), it isreflected in the E-TFC restriction (step 803 h 1).

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control in a case in which a channel forE-DCH is added are defined, there is provided an advantage of being ableto make the transmission control operation of the mobile station becomeunique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of the operationof the communications system. Furthermore, because a state in which thetransmit power margin for the E-DPDCH is insufficient can be reflectedin the E-TFC restriction, it can be reflected in the selection of aE-TFC. As a result, because the opportunity to select a E-TFC with whichthe transmit power runs short is reduced, there is provided an advantageof being able to perform more appropriate and more efficienttransmission control.

In this embodiment, although a criterion by which to judge whether toperform a scaling operation (scaling) on only the channel amplitude(βed) of the E-DPDCH is disposed (step 803 h 1), one of the followingvarious condition settings: (1) a judgment of whether it exceeds aspecific E-DPDCH channel amplitude value (or whether an interruption hasbeen made?); (2) a judgment of whether it falls within a specific rangeof E-DPDCH channel amplitude values; and (3) a judgment of whether thereis no necessity to perform a scaling operation (scaling) on only thechannel amplitude (βed) of the E-DPDCH unless E-DPCCH data aretransmitted can be provided. In each of the above-mentioned cases (1)and (2), a specific value can be specified, as a notification(RRC_signaling) of the setting information, by the fixed station (theradio resource control 301). As a result, there is provided an advantageof being able to provide flexible radio resource control and flexibletransmission control which take the whole of the communications systeminto consideration. This embodiment can be combined with any one ofabove-mentioned Embodiments 1 and 2. Furthermore, by weighting countsaccording to the degree of the scaling of the E-DPDCH channel transmitpower, it can be reflected in the E-TFC restriction.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 19 is a flow chart explaining a E-TFC restriction process ofevaluating the states of E-TFCs, and evaluating and restrictingavailable E-TFCs. FIG. 19 is shown for explaining in detail step 803(the E-TFC restriction process) of FIG. 8 explained in Embodiment 1, andincludes some steps which are the same as those of the flow chart shownin FIG. 10. Therefore, in FIG. 19, because the same steps as those shownin FIG. 10 mean the same processes or like processes, the explanation ofthe steps will be omitted hereafter. In this embodiment, in a transmitpower control step (e.g., step 407 of FIG. 4 shown in Embodiment 1), anaverage of the number of times that E-DPDCH packet data had beenretransmitted and the number of times that E-DPDCH packet data have beenretransmitted is counted, when the averaged retransmission count exceedsa predetermined number of times (Nretrans), it is reflected in the E-TFCrestriction process. That is, the retransmission count is used as aparameter of the E-TFC restriction process. This embodiment differs fromEmbodiment 1 shown in FIG. 10 in that there is provided a criterion bywhich to judge whether the averaged retransmission count exceeds thepredetermined number of times (Nretrans), as shown in step 803 h 2. Theretransmission count increases in a case (1) in which the total transmitpower margin of the mobile station at the time of the first transmissionor at the time of a retransmission is smaller than the E-DPDCH channelpower which is acquired from the used E-TFC and which is originallyrequired at the time of a transmission, or in a case (2) in whichbecause the value of the scheduling results from the fixed station issmall, and therefore the E-DPDCH channel power which becomes availableat the time of a retransmission is smaller than the E-DPDCH channelpower which is acquired from the used E-TFC and which is originallyrequired at the time of a transmission, the transmit power becomesinsufficient. Therefore, in either of the above-mentioned cases (1) and(2) in which the retransmission count easily increases, the availablechannel transmit power for the E-TFC is insufficient. Therefore, inaccordance with this embodiment, because the opportunity to select aE-TFC with which the transmit power becomes insufficient can be reducedby taking the retransmission count into consideration as a parameter,there is provided an advantage of being able provide more appropriateand more efficient transmission control.

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control in a case in which a E-DCH channelis added are defined, there is provided an advantage of being able tomake the transmission control operation of the mobile station becomeunique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of the operationof the communications system. In this embodiment, when the totaltransmit power exceeds Pmax in step 803 g, a judgment of whether theaverage number of retransmissions exceeds the predetermined number oftimes (Nretrans) is made. Furthermore, there can be defined one of thefollowing various process flows: (1) a process of, also when YES in step803 b, additionally performing the same judgment, and then reflectingthe result of the judgment in the E-TFC restriction; (2) a process ofdetermining the state of a E-TFC from both a count obtained from thetransmit power margin (margin) and a count showing the number ofretransmissions, by, for example, using either a method (a) of using alarger one of both the counts or a method (b) of acquiring the state(supported or Blocked state) of the E-TFC for each of the counts andimplementing a logical AND operation on the states acquired for both ofthe counts; and (3) a process of providing two or more predeterminedreference numbers of times, and then performing a weighting processusing these predetermined reference numbers of times so as to determinethe state of a E-TFC. Furthermore, the above-mentioned average number ofretransmissions (Nretrans) can be fixed by the standards, or can bespecified by a notification (RRC_signalling) of setting information fromthe fixed station (the radio resource control 301). When theabove-mentioned average number of retransmissions is notified from thefixed station to the mobile station, there is provided an advantage ofbeing able to provide flexible radio resource control and flexibletransmission control which take the whole of the communications systeminto consideration. This embodiment can be combined with any one ofabove-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 3.

Embodiment 5

FIG. 20 is a figure showing a flow of transmission control of a mobilestation in accordance with Embodiment 5 of the present invention. Step407 a is different from those shown in FIG. 4 explained in Embodiment 1,and therefore the explanation of the same process steps as those shownin FIG. 4 will be omitted and only a different point will be explained.In FIG. 20, a process of shifting from step 407 a in which the mobilestation performs transmit power control to a E-TFC selection step 406 isadded (the process being expressed by a thick line arrow in the figure).FIG. 21 shows a detailed flow of step 407 a of FIG. 20. The flow differsfrom that shown in FIG. 12 explained in Embodiment 1 in that when YES instep 407 g (i.e., when the total transmit power exceeds the maximumtransmit power Pmax even if the mobile station performs a channeltransmit power scaling on only the E-DPDCH), the mobile station returnsto step 406 of FIG. 20 and performs the E-TFC selection process againwithout performing any additional channel scaling (Additional scaling orEqual scaling). The explanation of the same process steps as those ofFIG. 12 will be omitted hereafter, and only a different point will beexplained.

Although when a transmission of packets is a retransmission, thetransmission cannot be delayed because the transmission needs to becarried out according to a defined retransmission cycle (HARQ RTT: HARQRound Trip Time), because the E-TFC selection is performed at the timeof the first-time transmission, the transmission timing can afford sometime delay within the limit that ensures a certain degree ofcommunication quality (QoS). Therefore, by reflecting the status of thetransmit power margin at a time closer to the transmission timing atwhich a transmit power control (TPC) command is applied in the E-TFCselection process, and then reselecting a transmission rate (E-TFC) atwhich data can be transmitted, there is provided an advantage of beingable to reduce the average number of times that a retransmission of datahas been carried out. That is, when the average number of times that aretransmission of data has been carried out can be reduced, thetransmission delay can also be reduced and therefore the throughput canbe improved.

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control in a case in which a E-DCH channelis added are defined, there is provided an advantage of being able tomake the transmission control operation of the mobile station becomeunique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of the operationof the communications system. This embodiment can be combined with anyone of above-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 4.

Embodiment 6

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing the structure of a mobile station inaccordance with embodiment 6 of the present invention. The mobilestation shown in FIG. 22 differs from the mobile station shown in FIG. 2in that maximum transmit power control information (Pmax info) isnotified from the modulating unit 205 to the transmission rate controlunit 204 in the media access control unit 202. The maximum transmitpower control information (Pmax info) can be notified from themodulating unit 205 to the transmission rate control unit 204 by usingeither a physical signal line or a primitive (primitive) which is amethod of carrying out communications between protocol layers accordingto the 3GPP standards. The above-mentioned maximum transmit powercontrol information (Pmax info) can include: (1) information indicatingwhether a channel power scaling has been performed on only the E-DPDCH;(2) information indicating whether the E-DPDCH has become anuntransmission (DTX) state as a result of the channel power scaling ononly the E-DPDCH; and (3) information indicating whether an additionalchannel scaling (Additional scalling or Equal scalling) has beenperformed.

Thus, the present embodiment offers an advantage of, when the E-DPDCHchannel transmit power required to transmit data at the selectedtransmission rate (E-TFC) deviates from the transmit power with whichdata can be actually transmitted, being able to feed it back to theE-TFC restriction process or the E-TFC selection process, and hence toreduce the occurrence of retransmissions and the occurrence of ashortage of channel electric power, etc., thereby bringing efficiency tothe transmission control.

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control in a case in which a E-DCH channelis added are defined, there is provided an advantage of being able tomake the transmission control operation of the mobile station becomeunique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of the operationof the communications system. It is also possible to use the structureof the mobile station shown in FIG. 22 for implementation of thetransmission control flow shown in Embodiment 5. Furthermore, in thisembodiment, the maximum transmit power information (Pmax info) isnotified from the modulating unit 205. As an alternative, the maximumtransmit power information can be notified from the transmit powermeasurement and control unit 208, and the same advantage can be providedin this case. This embodiment can be combined with any one ofabove-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 5.

Embodiment 7

FIG. 23 is a flowchart explaining a transmit power control process inaccordance with Embodiment 7 of the present invention. FIG. 23 is shownfor explaining in detail the transmit power control process of step 407shown in FIG. 4, and includes some steps which are the same as those inthe flow chart shown in FIG. 12. Therefore, in FIG. 23, because the samesteps as those shown in FIG. 12 mean the same processes or likeprocesses, the explanation of the steps will be omitted hereafter. Instep 407 f 1 a of FIG. 23, the gain factor (βed(,eff)) of the E-DPDCHbecomes zero (the channel power of the E-DPDCH=0) because of a channelpower scaling on only the E-DPDCH, and, when any E-DPDCH data are nottransmitted, the gain factor (βec) of the E-DPCCH is also made to becomezero (the channel power of the E-DPCCH=0).

The mobile station transmits a large volume of packet data using theE-DPDCH, and also transmits control data using the E-DPCCH. However,when packet data cannot be transmitted because of a shortage of theelectric power, a transmission of only the control information resultsin the result of a judgment of reception of packet data by the fixedstation being a NACK judgment, and therefore the mobile station needs toretransmit the data after all. Therefore, the transmission of onlyE-DPCCH data causes a waste of radio resources. Furthermore, because thenumber of times that a retransmission of the packet data has beencarried out increases, the number of times that a retransmission of thepacket data has been carried out easily reaches its maximum number oftransmissions in the media access control unit 202 and this results inretransmission control in an upper protocol layer working. In general,because the higher the layer in which retransmission control isperformed, the larger time delay is caused by the retransmissioncontrol, a serious problem arises. In this embodiment, a transmissionvia the E-DPCCH is also suspended when any E-DPDCH data cannot betransmitted. Therefore, particularly, by applying this embodiment to thefirst-time transmission, there is provided an advantage of being able toreduce the waste of the radio resources due to useless E-DPCCHtransmissions. Because it is defined that in a case in which the DCH(DPDCH) is not set up, βed(,eff) can be set to zero, this embodiment canbe applied only to this case.

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control in a case in which a E-DCH channelis added are defined, there is provided an advantage of being able tomake the transmission control operation of the mobile station becomeunique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of the operationof the communications system. This embodiment can be combined with anyone of above-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 6.

Embodiment 8

FIG. 24 is a flow chart showing a transmission control process carriedout by a mobile station in accordance with Embodiment 8 of the presentinvention. FIG. 24 differs from FIG. 4 in that it includes steps 410 andstep 411 while the other steps are the same as those shown in FIG. 4.Because among the steps of FIG. 24, the same steps as those shown inFIG. 4 show the same processes or like processes, the explanation of thesteps will be omitted hereafter. In the transmission control processshown in FIG. 24, when any DCH data transmission is not set up(Configuration) and a E-DCH transmission is set up (when YES in step410), a process of transmitting DPCCH data is performed by using a DPCCHchannel format in which any index (TFCI: TFC Index) for identifying aTFC is not transmitted (step 411). Concretely, in step 410, the mobilestation checks to see whether any DCH data transmission is not set upand whether a E-DCH data transmission is set up. When, in step 410, YES(i.e., when any DCH data transmission is not set up and a E-DCH datatransmission is set up), the mobile station carries out the process ofstep 411 and sets up a DPCCH channel format in which any TFCI is nottransmitted. The mobile station then carries out the process of step404.

Because the DPCCH is a channel via which a pilot signal for maintenanceof a physical radio connection or for radio demodulation by a receiveside is transmitted, any DPCCH connection must be maintained even whenany data are not transmitted using the DPDCH. Similarly, the same goesfor a case in which E-DCH data are transmitted even if any DCH data areuntransmitted. However, when any DCH transmission is not set up, it isnot necessary to transmit any TFC information (TFCI). Therefore, thereis provided an advantage of being able to avoid the above-mentionedproblem by transmitting a DPCCH channel format in which any TFCI isuntransmitted when any DCH data transmission is not set up and a E-DCHdata transmission is set up. The channel format in which any TFCI isuntransmitted can be newly defined, or can be specified by using aconventional format. When the power for only TFCIs is set to zero(untransmission), DPCCH transmissions become discontinuous, thereceiving system of the fixed station, other mobile stations, hearingaids, etc. demodulate the envelope of power variations, and a so-calledhearing aid problem arises. In this case, a pilot can be placed at theposition of the TFCI of the channel format. In the case in which a pilotis placed at the position of the TFCI of the channel format, there isprovided an advantage of being able to enable even a base station whichcomplies with release 5 or the conventional standards earlier thanrelease 5 (i.e., the backward compatibility is ensured) to perform aDPCCH reception as usual.

As mentioned above, in accordance with this embodiment, because thedetails of the transmission control in a case in which a E-DCH channelis added are defined, there is provided an advantage of being able tomake the transmission control operation of the mobile station becomeunique, and providing an improvement in the efficiency of the operationof the communications system. This embodiment can be combined with anyone of above-mentioned Embodiments 1 to 7. Each of the above-mentionedembodiments can be combined freely with any other one or moreembodiments as long as its advantages or compound advantages can beacquired.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied to a radio communications system.More particularly, the present invention can be applied to mobilecommunication apparatus including a mobile phone which complies with the3GPP standards.

1. A mobile station comprising a transmission control means for, foreach of a first physical data channel via which user data transmittedvia a transport channel from an upper layer are transmitted to a fixedstation and a second physical data channel which is an extension of saidfirst physical data channel, selecting transmission control informationincluding a transmission rate depending upon said user data, a multiplexmodulation means for performing multiplex modulation on transmissiondata by using the transmission control information selected by saidtransmission control means and amplitude coefficients of said firstphysical data channel and said second physical data channel, and atransmit power control means for performing control of transmit power ofa transmitting means which amplifies said transmission data in such amanner that said transmission data has predetermined transmit power, andwhich transmits said transmission data, characterized in that saidtransmission control means judges whether the transmit power in a caseof not transmitting a control channel via which control data aboutcontrol of said second physical data channel are transmitted exceeds amaximum transmit power value so as to select the transmission controlinformation about said first physical data channel.
 2. The mobilestation according to claim 1, characterized in that the transmissioncontrol means compares a transmit power margin which is calculated fromthe maximum transmit power and the transmit power with which thetransmitting means performs transmission with transmit power of thesecond physical data channel, and selects the transmission controlinformation about said second physical data channel in consideration ofwhether a transmission via said second physical data channel isperformed.
 3. The mobile station according to claim 1, characterized inthat the transmit power control means performs control of the maximumtransmit power using a parameter which defines the maximum transmitpower according to a combination of whether transmissions via transmitchannels including at least the first physical data channel and thesecond physical data channel are performed.
 4. The mobile stationaccording to claim 1, characterized in that the transmission controlmeans compares a transmit power margin which is calculated from themaximum transmit power and the transmit power with which thetransmitting means performs transmission with transmit power of thesecond physical data channel, and selects the transmission controlinformation about said second physical data channel in consideration ofwhether a scaling process is performed on the transmit power of saidsecond physical data channel.
 5. The mobile station according to claim1, characterized in that the transmission control means compares atransmit power margin which is calculated from the maximum transmitpower and the transmit power with which the transmitting means performstransmission with transmit power of the second physical data channel,and selects the transmission control information about said secondphysical data channel in consideration of a number of times that aretransmission via said second physical data channel is performed. 6.The mobile station according to claim 1, characterized in that thetransmission control means reselects the transmission controlinformation about said second physical data channel when transmit powerof the second physical data channel is scaled and exceeds the maximumtransmit power.
 7. The mobile station according to claim 1,characterized in that the transmission control means selects thetransmission control information on a basis of maximum transmit powercontrol information containing either of whether or not a scaling oftransmit power of the second physical data channel is performed, whetheror not a transmission via said second physical data channel isperformed, and whether or not a scaling of the transmit power isperformed, or all of them.
 8. The mobile station according to claim 1,characterized in that when setting the amplitude coefficient of thesecond physical data channel to zero, the transmit power control meansalso sets an amplitude coefficient of the control channel to zero. 9.The mobile station according to claim 1, characterized in that whensetting the amplitude coefficient of the second physical data channel tozero, the transmitting means does not transmit the transmission controlinformation using the control channel.
 10. A communications methodcomprising a transmission control information selection process of, foreach of a first physical data channel via which user data transmittedvia a transport channel from an upper layer are transmitted to a fixedstation and a second physical data channel which is an extension of saidfirst physical data channel, selecting transmission control informationincluding a transmission rate depending upon said user data, a multiplexmodulation process of performing multiplex modulation on transmissiondata by using the transmission control information selected in saidtransmission control information selection process and amplitudecoefficients of said first physical data channel and said secondphysical data channel, and a transmit power control process ofperforming transmit power control in such a manner that saidtransmission data has predetermined transmit power, characterized inthat said transmission control information selection process is the oneof judging whether the transmit power in a case of not transmitting acontrol channel via which control data about control of said secondphysical data channel are transmitted exceeds a maximum transmit powervalue so as to select the transmission control information about saidfirst physical data channel.
 11. The communications method according toclaim 10, characterized in that the transmission control informationselection process is the one of comparing a transmit power margin whichis calculated from the maximum transmit power and transmit power of atransmission signal which is transmitted to a fixed station withtransmit power of the second physical data channel, and selecting thetransmission control information about said second physical data channelin consideration of whether a transmission via said second physical datachannel is performed.
 12. The communications method according to claim10, characterized in that the transmission control information selectionprocess is the one of performing control of the maximum transmit powerusing a parameter which defines the maximum transmit power according toa combination of whether transmissions via transmit channels includingat least the first physical data channel and the second physical datachannel are performed.
 13. The communications method according to claim10, characterized in that the transmission control information selectionprocess is the one of comparing a transmit power margin which iscalculated from the maximum transmit power and transmit power of atransmission signal which is transmitted to a fixed station withtransmit power of the second physical data channel, and selecting thetransmission control information about said second physical data channelin consideration of whether a scaling process is performed on thetransmit power of said second physical data channel.
 14. Thecommunications method according to claim 10, characterized in that thetransmission control information selection process is the one ofcomparing a transmit power margin which is calculated from the maximumtransmit power and transmit power of a transmission signal which istransmitted to a fixed station with transmit power of the secondphysical data channel, and selecting the transmission controlinformation about said second physical data channel in consideration ofa number of times that a retransmission via said second physical datachannel is performed.
 15. The communications method according to claim10, characterized in that the transmission control information selectionprocess is the one of reselecting the transmission control informationabout said second physical data channel when transmit power of thesecond physical data channel is scaled and exceeds the maximum transmitpower.
 16. The communications method according to claim 10,characterized in that the transmission control information selectionprocess is the one of selecting the transmission control information ona basis of maximum transmit power control information containing eitherof whether or not a scaling of transmit power of the second physicaldata channel has been performed, whether or not a transmission via saidsecond physical data channel has been performed, and whether or not ascaling of the transmit power has been performed, or all of them. 17.The communications method according to claim 10, characterized in thatthe transmit power control process has a process of, when setting theamplitude coefficient of the second physical data channel to zero, alsosetting an amplitude coefficient of the control channel to zero.
 18. Thecommunications method according to claim 10, characterized in that thetransmission process has a process of, when setting the amplitudecoefficient of the second physical data channel to zero, nottransmitting the transmission control information using the controlchannel.